Inhibit Coatings is attending the BIOMEDevice Conference in Santa Clara on the 15th and 16th of November. We particularly value the medical device industry. Antimicrobial medical devices are one of the most impactful applications of our technology.
Antimicrobial medical devices consist of specialized medical instruments, implants, or materials designed to prevent or reduce the risk of microbial infection when they come into contact with the human body. These devices find applications in various medical procedures, from surgeries to long-term implants, and they incorporate materials or technologies that inhibit bacteria, fungi, viruses, or other microbial growth. Healthcare settings must use antimicrobial medical devices to minimize the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and enhance patient outcomes.
Why are antimicrobial medical devices important?
The importance of antimicrobial medical devices is underscored by the following statistics:
Each day, approximately 1 in 31 US hospital patients, and 1 in 43 nursing home residents, contract at least one infection associated with their healthcare.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2021 National and State Healthcare-Associated Infections Progress Report; 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/hai/data/portal/progress-report.html.
“The estimated direct annual cost of treating HAIs in the United States ranges from $ 28.4 billion to $ 45 billion.”
Bloodstream infections resulting from central venous catheter use result in 150 excess deaths per 1000 patients, and each infection incurs a cost of US$17,896-$94,879
Internet Citation: Results. Content last reviewed November 2017. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. https://www.ahrq.gov/hai/pfp/haccost2017-results.html
Benefits and examples
Adding antimicrobial technology to medical devices provides several benefits:
Reduced Infection Risk: Antimicrobial devices can significantly reduce the risk of infection, which is especially important for patients with compromised immune systems or those undergoing invasive procedures.
Improved Patient Outcomes: Lower infection rates lead to better patient outcomes, shorter hospital stays, and decreased healthcare costs.
Extended Device Lifespan: Antimicrobial coatings can extend the functional life of implanted medical devices by reducing the likelihood of infection-related complications.
Below are a few examples of these benefits in antimicrobial medical devices:
Catheters: Antimicrobial coatings on catheters can help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bloodstream infections.
Surgical Instruments: Surgical tools and implants may be treated with antimicrobial coatings to reduce the risk of surgical site infections.
Implants: Devices like joint replacements or cardiac implants can incorporate antimicrobial properties to lower the chances of infection.
Dressings and Wound Care Products: Antimicrobial dressings and wound care materials are used to prevent or treat infections in open wounds.
Dental Devices: Antimicrobial materials may be used in dental implants, orthodontic devices, and other oral healthcare products.
We work collaboratively with our customers to develop bespoke cost-effective antimicrobial solutions for their particular medical device applications. If you would like more information on how we can help add antimicrobial technology to a medical device please contact us .
About BIOMEDevice Silicon Valley event
“BIOMEDevice Silicon Valley returns this November bringing together the brightest minds in the industry to demonstrate and discuss emerging trends, innovation, and disruptive tech changing the future of the medical device industry. From education to networking events and more, BIOMEDevice bringing it all and more. “
To learn more you can visit the BIOMEDevice website.