Surgical site infection
An average reduction in bacterial quantity of 95.8% was seen on the treated surfaces compared with untreated surfaces. Furthermore, an average reduction of 43.5% was seen on untreated products positioned in the same environment as treated products, compared with the control untreated products. These results indicated that products with anti-microbial treatments not only reduce bacteria levels on the treated surfaces, but also contribute to reduced bacteria levels throughout the room. The evidence demonstrates the positive
effect of silver ions in the reduction of bacterial load in clinical settings. A clean environment benefits both patients and staff in all areas where good hygiene levels are crucial for safe care. The biocompatibility of materials used in medical devices is an important consideration in the design process. While surgical lights do not come into direct contact with the patient, there is a small risk of indirect material transmission from the medical team to the patient and, as discussed earlier, every risk must be reduced as far as possible. To mitigate this risk the Polygiene BioMaster additive is non-leaching and contains no nanotechnology and so is safe to use even on high-traffic touch points. Antimicrobial additives should not be considered a substitute for standard cleaning practices but rather an additional layer of protection. Regular cleaning, disinfection, and sterilisation protocols remain vital in maintaining a hygienic operating theatre. Antimicrobial additives serve as a complementary defence, providing an extra mitigation against the risk of surgical site infections. One of the challenges in infection control
is the possibility of human error or lapses in adherence to cleaning protocols. Antimicrobial additives act as a safety net, ensuring that even in cases where standard procedures may fall short, the risk is minimised. By integrating antimicrobial additives with existing cleaning practices, hospitals can create a comprehensive infection prevention strategy that optimises patient safety.
Conclusion Antimicrobial additives can play a vital role in ensuring the cleanliness and safety of equipment used in operating rooms. By reducing infection rates, improving patient outcomes, and contributing to long-term cost savings, these additives provide a significant advantage to healthcare facilities and the patients they serve. When combined with existing infection control measures, antimicrobial additives act as an extra line of defence against surgical site infections, ultimately leading to better patient care and improved surgical outcome.
CSJ
References 1. Totty JP, Moss JWE, Barker E, Mealing SJ, Posnett JW, Chetter IC, Smith GE. The impact of surgical site infection on hospitalisation, treatment costs, and health-related quality of life after vascular surgery. Int Wound J. 2021 Jun;18(3):261-268. doi: 10.1111/iwj.13526. Epub 2020 Dec 16. PMID: 33331066; PMCID: PMC8243999.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC8243999/#iwj13526-bib-0008
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3. Regulation (EU) 2017/745 Of The European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on medical devices, amending Directive 2001/83/ EC, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and repealing Council Directives 90/385/EEC and 93/42/EEC
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About the author
Tom Partington is Product Manager at Brandon Medical, where he is responsible for design of a wide range of products used in operating rooms and ICUs. Tom has previously worked in design and operational management roles in a range of heavily regulated industries.
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