Antimicrobial Polymers In Medical Devices Help Fight Against Healthcare-Acquired Infections

About four percent of patients in acute care hospitals have been infected with Healthcare-Acquired Infections (HAIs) in the year 2011, with an estimate of 17,000 deaths. These device-associated infections have huge costs in both dollars and lives. In response to this, U.S. government agencies and clinical organizations have made recommendations and best practices in an attempt to prevent infections acquired within a hospital. One of the top CDC recommendations is to use antimicrobial impregnated catheters and cuffs. Parker Hannifin Corporation is uniquely qualified for addressing the challenges in adding antimicrobial properties to medical elastomers. Download the full white paper to see how Parker's antimicrobial/polymer combinations have shown excellent antimicrobial efficacy and biocompatibility while maintaining much of their mechanical properties and processing capabilities.