Benefits of Antimicrobial Medical Coatings
Healthcare providers are continually tasked with improving patient health while reducing the risk of infection. As many as one in 20 U.S. patients acquire infections during hospital stays, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Antibiotic-resistant pathogens that cause healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose an ongoing and increasing challenge for hospitals, both in the clinical treatment of patients and in the prevention of the cross-transmission. HAIs result in more deaths than AIDS, auto accidents, and breast cancer deaths combined in U.S. hospitals. They can also lead to prolonged hospital stays, readmission after discharge, and an increase in patient expenses.
This prominence of HAIs has fuelled the need for strategies and products that actively reduce the risk of patient infections. As such, the incorporation of antimicrobial additives into healthcare furnishings and medical equipment is increasingly being viewed as part of the solution to infection prevention and control in healthcare environments. According to a report by Grand View Research, the healthcare segment accounted for more than 26.0% share of the global revenue in 2023.
Antimicrobial medical device coatings utilize Parylene polymers that can be applied on everything from catheters to medical electronics. Parylene is a thin film polymer coating made of chemical vapor deposited polymers that protects a number of devices and components in the medical, electronics, automotive, and defense industries. This technology combines the benefits of Parylene with antimicrobial properties to effectively eliminate harmful microorganisms on coated products and surfaces.
Catheter coatings with antimicrobial protection are a prime example of how medical device coatings can be used to improve cleanliness in healthcare facilities. The antimicrobial technologies utilized on catheters by Microban demonstrated a significantly higher performance than more traditional technologies. Antimicrobial catheter coatings are also able to lower the rate of HAI's in patients that can be attributed to biofilm incrustation and propagation that occurs during use.
In response to the growing demand for medical products with an antimicrobial feature, manufacturers worldwide are now seeking antimicrobial coatings that are biocompatible, biostable, non-toxic and FDA compliant. Microban has the world's largest portfolio of antimicrobial technologies that are proven effective against harmful strains of bacteria. These innovative formulations can be added to a range of medical products and surfaces to inhibit the growth of microorganisms and help minimise the spread of HAIs.
To learn more about Microban and our medical device coatings with antimicrobial protection, contact us today!
