Biomaterial Database

Intravascular catheters and biofilm control. 2007

S L Percival, and P Kite

Department of Microbiology, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK.

Intravascular catheters are the most common cause of nosocomially acquired bloodstream infections. Bacteria found adhering to the intraluminal surfaces of catheters are the principal source and cause of these infections. Adherent bacteria overtime are known to form multicellular communities which become encased within a three dimensional matrix of extracellular polymeric material known as biofilms, which are thought to be responsible for persistent infections. Consequently, a number of technologies have been developed to help prevent and control biofilms in intravascular catheters. One such approach involves impregnating catheter material with antimicrobial agents. Unfortunately these methods are not universally effective in preventing catheter-related biofilm infections. Technologies that utilise antimicrobials, as catheter locks have been shown to have more potential for preventing biofilm formation and reducing the incidences of catheter related bloodstream infections (CRBSI). This article discusses the significance of biofilms in intravascular catheters and determines whether the treatments available today are proving to be effective for controlling biofilms and draws attention to future avenues which are being investigated to control biofilms and therefore CRBSI.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002408	Catheters, Indwelling	Catheters designed to be left within an organ or passage for an extended period of time.	Implantable Catheters,In-Dwelling Catheters,Catheter, In-Dwelling,Catheter, Indwelling,Catheters, In-Dwelling,In Dwelling Catheters,In-Dwelling Catheter,Indwelling Catheter,Indwelling Catheters
D003428	Cross Infection	Any infection which a patient contracts in a health-care institution.	Hospital Infections,Nosocomial Infections,Health Care Associated Infection,Health Care Associated Infections,Healthcare Associated Infections,Infection, Cross,Infections, Hospital,Infections, Nosocomial,Cross Infections,Healthcare Associated Infection,Hospital Infection,Infection, Healthcare Associated,Infection, Hospital,Infection, Nosocomial,Infections, Cross,Infections, Healthcare Associated,Nosocomial Infection
D004866	Equipment Contamination	The presence of an infectious agent on instruments, prostheses, or other inanimate articles.	Contamination, Equipment,Contaminations, Equipment,Equipment Contaminations
D004867	Equipment Design	Methods and patterns of fabricating machines and related hardware.	Design, Equipment,Device Design,Medical Device Design,Design, Medical Device,Designs, Medical Device,Device Design, Medical,Device Designs, Medical,Medical Device Designs,Design, Device,Designs, Device,Designs, Equipment,Device Designs,Equipment Designs
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000890	Anti-Infective Agents	Substances that prevent infectious agents or organisms from spreading or kill infectious agents in order to prevent the spread of infection.	Anti-Infective Agent,Anti-Microbial Agent,Antimicrobial Agent,Microbicide,Microbicides,Anti-Microbial Agents,Antiinfective Agents,Antimicrobial Agents,Agent, Anti-Infective,Agent, Anti-Microbial,Agent, Antimicrobial,Agents, Anti-Infective,Agents, Anti-Microbial,Agents, Antiinfective,Agents, Antimicrobial,Anti Infective Agent,Anti Infective Agents,Anti Microbial Agent,Anti Microbial Agents
D000891	Anti-Infective Agents, Local	Substances used on humans and other animals that destroy harmful microorganisms or inhibit their activity. They are distinguished from DISINFECTANTS, which are used on inanimate objects.	Anti-Infective Agents, Topical,Antiseptic,Antiseptics,Microbicides, Local,Microbicides, Topical,Antiinfective Agents, Local,Antiinfective Agents, Topical,Local Anti-Infective Agents,Local Antiinfective Agents,Topical Anti-Infective Agents,Topical Antiinfective Agents,Agents, Local Anti-Infective,Agents, Local Antiinfective,Agents, Topical Anti-Infective,Agents, Topical Antiinfective,Anti Infective Agents, Local,Anti Infective Agents, Topical,Local Anti Infective Agents,Local Microbicides,Topical Anti Infective Agents,Topical Microbicides
D000900	Anti-Bacterial Agents	Substances that inhibit the growth or reproduction of BACTERIA.	Anti-Bacterial Agent,Anti-Bacterial Compound,Anti-Mycobacterial Agent,Antibacterial Agent,Antibiotics,Antimycobacterial Agent,Bacteriocidal Agent,Bacteriocide,Anti-Bacterial Compounds,Anti-Mycobacterial Agents,Antibacterial Agents,Antibiotic,Antimycobacterial Agents,Bacteriocidal Agents,Bacteriocides,Agent, Anti-Bacterial,Agent, Anti-Mycobacterial,Agent, Antibacterial,Agent, Antimycobacterial,Agent, Bacteriocidal,Agents, Anti-Bacterial,Agents, Anti-Mycobacterial,Agents, Antibacterial,Agents, Antimycobacterial,Agents, Bacteriocidal,Anti Bacterial Agent,Anti Bacterial Agents,Anti Bacterial Compound,Anti Bacterial Compounds,Anti Mycobacterial Agent,Anti Mycobacterial Agents,Compound, Anti-Bacterial,Compounds, Anti-Bacterial
D016470	Bacteremia	The presence of viable bacteria circulating in the blood. Fever, chills, tachycardia, and tachypnea are common acute manifestations of bacteremia. The majority of cases are seen in already hospitalized patients, most of whom have underlying diseases or procedures which render their bloodstreams susceptible to invasion.	Bacteremias
D017053	Infection Control	Programs of disease surveillance, generally within health care facilities, designed to investigate, prevent, and control the spread of infections and their causative microorganisms.	Control, Infection