Antibacterial Properties and Application of Nanosilver Material in the Tracheal Tube

To investigate the antibacterial ability of a new type of antibacterial tracheal tube coated with nanosilver/polyurethane in rats. In January 2016, 48 male SD rats of SPF grade, provided by the medical center of Hong Kong University of science and technology, Peking University, Shenzhen, were selected as the study objects. Twenty-four healthy rats, who underwent endotracheal intubation and retained nanosilver/polyurethane-coated new antibacterial endotracheal tube in vivo, were randomly selected as the experimental group, while 24 healthy rats who underwent endotracheal intubation at the same time and retained common endotracheal tube in vivo were randomly selected as the control group. At 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after the operation, the number of colonies in the alveolar lavage fluid of the two groups was measured using the plate count method, and the thickness of the biofilm formed by the built-in catheter of the two groups was observed by microscope. Twelve hours after operation, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P <0.05). The colony number in BALF in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). At 12 and 24 hours after operation, there was no significant difference in the biofilm thickness between the two groups (P > 0.05). In the experimental group, the thickness of biofilm that had formed by catheterization 48 and 72 hours after operation was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The new type of antibacterial tracheal tube, coated with nanosilver/polyurethane, has stronger antibacterial and anti-biofilm proliferation performance than that of the common tracheal tube.