IN-VITRO EFFICACY OF AN ANTIBIOTIC RELEASING SILICONE VENTRICLE CATHETER TO PREVENT SHUNT INFECTION

Infection due to implanted polymeric devices is a major problem in mod ern medicine. Microbial colonization of implants in neurosurgery, e.g. cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts is the main reason for their failure , and often results in the consequent removal of the infected implants . In this paper we report on new approaches in the prevention of bacte rial infections by incorporation of an antibiotic (rifampicin) into th e polymer devices (silicone). Drug release characteristics are investi gated, and the physico-chemical mechanism of the delivery is discussed . Measurements of killing kinetics and the bacterial adhesion to the a ntibiotic-loaded silicone in a static adhesion assay reveal that only the liberation of high antibiotic doses over a period of weeks can pre vent the bacterial colonization of the polymeric surface.