Modification of polymer surfaces of medical devices to prevent infections.

摘要

The extensive use of antibiotics to treat device-associated infections has contributed to the acceleration of the appearance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria by spreading them through contaminated hospital environments to patients. Comprehensive research has had limited success in the reduction of device-associated infections, and usually the only therapy to treat the infections is the removal of the infected devices from patients. Recent strategies to minimize the risks of device-associated infections have focused on the following areas: good clinical practices, prudent selection of biomaterials used for device construction, and modification of device surfaces by increasing surface biocompatibility and decreasing bacterial adherence. This paper discusses from several aspects the elements of bacterial adhesion on indwelling device surfaces that may directly relate to infections and surface treatment technologies reducing the incidence of indwelling medical device-related infections..