New concepts in the prevention of polymer-associated foreign body infections

Polymer-associated foreign body infections, especially those caused by coagulase negative staphylococci, have become a problem of increasing importance in modern medicine. Therapy of such infections is often difficult and requires in many cases the removal of a catheter or an implant. On the basis of polymer material modification alternative strategies for the prevention of foreign body infections are presented. By use of high energy radiation or glow discharge techniques polymers can be modified so that new chemical groups with potential antiadhesive or antimicrobial activities can be introduced to the polymer (surface). Another approach is the coupling or incorporation of antimicrobial agents (e.g. antibiotics) to or into polymers. Such polymer-antibiotic systems are obviously not able to prevent initial bacterial adhesion to the polymer material but can effectively eliminate already adherent bacteria from the polymer surface.