Prevent and Protect: how it's possible to avoid infections

Arjun Luthra, commercial director for BioInteractions, explains how it’s possible to avoid infections.

There is an identified need to protect surfaces from germs and microbes. Everything is susceptible to microbes and bacteria, which find their way to humans. It is not always possible to clean, disinfect or use strong chemicals on surfaces to prevent the growth of germs in regular intervals throughout the busy day.

An antimicrobial coating is an application of a chemical agent on a surface that can stop the growth of disease-causing microorganisms. Apart from increasing the surface’s durability, appearance and corrosion resistance, these coatings also protect from harmful disease-causing microbes. Antimicrobial coatings stick to the surface they are applied on and remain effective for a limited period, defining them as a critical option to fight bacteria in this environment.

How do we elevate the status of antimicrobial coatings?

Currently, there are many companies in this industry that have turned their resources to the development of effective antimicrobial coatings, another option for medical devices to prevent infection and protect against pathogens. But unfortunately, most of these products are still far from perfect.

The perfect antimicrobial coating needs to prevent growth on surfaces as well as confront active infections that are within the patient. A new innovation has achieved this by incorporating both active and passive components to create a non-leaching, effective, safe, and highly durable solution for even the most chronic medical devices and implants.

This solution that has already been tested and is fully compliant with current medical device regulations, has been independently tested to international standards (ISO, EN, PAS) and proven to provide monoclonal protection which kills a broad spectrum of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as well as enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, including E.Coli, MRSA, Influenza, Norovirus and SARS-Cov-2 for 365 days without any reduction in efficacy over time.

The combination of components provides a contact-kill mechanism which provides an evolutionary step forward in antimicrobial technologies. The coating prevents growth of pathogens and biofilm under all conditions (acidic, neutral and basic) as well as confronts active infections that interact with the device surface to further reduce infections within the patient.

Why isn’t their use more widespread?

One of the main factors stunting the widespread use of antimicrobial coatings are the current regulations in place. Under today’s European Union (EU) regulations, medical devices are considered medicines and are therefore tested by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) following the same tests and approval processes that drugs do.

In the USA, the use of antimicrobial coatings is more widespread than in the EU. The US Food and Drug Administration allows the use of coatings, regardless of them using silver or leaching and reducing their effectiveness overtime.

Thorough testing and aiming for perfection in all medical-adjacent products are especially important not only for patient care, but also to bring about a continued cycle of technology innovation and enhanced procedures for the professionals. This current method of testing helps hospitals, patients and healthcare professionals to be certain that antimicrobial coatings are effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria as well as viruses.

What will happen in the future?

The prospect of a biocompatible technology which can enhance the function of medical devices through eliminating existing microbes, actively confronting existing infections within a patient and also preventing the formation of new colonies represents a paradigm shift in prevention and treatment of Healthcare Associated Infections.

The future brings an opportunity to raise medical standards. The innovation already exists. All we have to do now is choose to develop it and apply it in effective ways for both the professionals as well as the patient.