Foster Corporation announces antimicrobial master batches

Provider of polymer solutions for healthcare markets, Foster Corporation has introduced antimicrobial master batches for blending with medical device polymers.

Any components made with these antimicrobial polymer blends kill harmful bacteria that can lead to infections such as MRSA.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 25 patients in the US gets a hospital associated infection (HAI) whilst being treated.

Devices that are particularly susceptible include central venous catheters which are vulnerable to bacteria colonisation which can then enter the blood stream. Medical device companies are now increasingly evaluating antimicrobial additives for plastics to kill harmful bacteria on the surface of device components.

Foster Corporation is using combat master batches made from ionic silver technology which is successful at killing bacteria and preventing colonisation.  Additives based on this chemistry are commonly melt blended directly into medical polymers for the manufacture of antimicrobial device components.

Larry Johnson, executive vice president for Foster Corporation said: “Combat master batches are available in quantities as low as two pounds to minimise costs for initial evaluations. With letdown percentages of 2-10%, depending on the polymer and applications, these small order quantities allow engineers to test several antimicrobial formulations from a single order quantity.”