ATS
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Personal Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Permission Requests
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Alt, E.
Right arrow Articles by Schömig, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Alt, E.
Right arrow Articles by Schömig, A.

Ann Thorac Surg 1999;68:2123-2128
© 1999 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Original Articles: Cardiovascular

Hydrogen peroxide for prevention of bacterial growth on polymer biomaterials

Eckhard Alt, MDa, Francesca Leipold, MDa, Danica Milatovic, MDa, Günter Lehmann, MDa, Sybille Heinz, MDa, Albert Schömig, MDa

a Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Germany

Address reprint requests to Dr Alt, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Ismaninger Strasse 22, D-81675 München, Germany
e-mail: alt{at}med1.med.tu-muenchen.de

Background. Despite widespread use of potent antibiotics, infections of artificial implants and catheters are of increasing concern. We tested whether local treatment with 3% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), long known as an inexpensive wound disinfectant, could prevent or reduce bacterial growth on polymer biomaterials.

Methods. Two-centimeter-long pieces of polyurethane and silicone tubing were contaminated with a standardized solution of Staphylococcus epidermidis (105/mL) and then rinsed and wiped with saline (0.9%) solution. Bacterial growth was assessed after incubation at 37°C for 24 hours. Bacterial colonies were compared for the following treatments: wiping only with saline; wiping with 1.5%, 2%, or 3% H2O2; pretreating biomaterials with 3% H2O2 and subsequent contamination for 2 and 4 hours without treatment after contamination; and contamination of tubings 1 month after pretreatment with 3% H2O2. The effect of 3% H2O2 was also assessed on contamination with Escherichia coli.

Results. Bacterial growth was reduced by more than 99% when the contaminated tubes were treated with 3% H2O2 compared with saline control (p < 0.001). Lower concentrations of H2O2 were less effective. The length of the contamination period had no influence on the effectiveness of H2O2 when used on polyurethane but did with silicone tubings. Pretreatment with H2O2 1 month before contamination still reduced bacterial growth rate by 90% on polyurethane and by 75% on silicone tubings. Comparable effects on bacterial growth rate were observed for staphylococci (-90%, p < 0.001) and escherichiae (-90%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions. Local treatment with 3% H2O2 significantly reduced bacterial growth on polymer biomaterials even for 1 month after treatment. This finding might influence clinical strategies of prevention of foreign body infection.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
ANN THORAC SURG ASIAN CARDIOVASC THORAC ANN EUR J CARDIOTHORAC SURG
J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG ICVTS ALL CTSNet JOURNALS
Copyright © 1999 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.