Does washing medical devices before and after use decrease bacterial contamination?

Abstract

Surface treatment of medical devices may be a way of avoiding the need for replacement of these devices and the comorbidities associated with infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether pre- and postcontamination washing of 2 prostheses with different textures can decrease bacterial contamination. The following microorganisms were evaluated: Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcus epidermidis , Proteus mirabilis and Enterococcus faecalis . Silicone and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene vascular prostheses were used and divided into 3 groups: prostheses contaminated; prostheses contaminated and treated before contamination; and prostheses contaminated and treated after contamination. Treatments were performed with antibiotic solution, chlorhexidine and lidocaine. After one week of incubation, the prostheses were sown in culture medium, which was incubated for 48 hours. The area of colony formation was evaluated by fractal dimension, an image analysis tool. The antibiotic solution inhibited the growth of S epidermidis and chlorhexidine decrease in 53% the colonization density for S aureus in for both prostheses in the pre-washing. In postcontamination washing, the antibiotic solution inhibited the growth of all bacteria evaluated; there was a 60% decrease in the colonization density of S aureus and absence of colonization for E faecalis with chlorhexidine; and lidocaine inhibited the growth of S aureus in both prostheses. Antibiotic solution showed the highest efficiency in inhibiting bacterial growth, especially for S epidermidis , in both washings. Lidocaine was able to reduce colonization by S aureus in post-contamination washing, showing that it can be used as an alternative adjuvant treatment in these cases.

Keller Funnel Efficacy in “No Touch” Breast Augmentation and Reconstruction: A Systematic Review

“…[57][58][59][60] Despite appropriate skin and device preparation, positive skin cultures can still be seen. [61][62][63][64][65] The Keller funnel was designed as a simple and reliable method of achieving the no-touch technique to avoid implant contact with skin and thus subsequent contamination. One of the first studies assessed the efficacy of the funnel in avoiding contact with the skin on cadaver models.…”

Efficacy of Povidone Iodine Against Microbial Biofilms in Breast Implants With Different Textures: Results From an in vitro Study

“…Given the fact that hitherto the exact cause for capsular contraction has not yet been determined sufficiently, the biofilm hypothesis is one of the major corner stones to explain fibroblast proliferation. Chronic inflammation is somehow considered to play a role in this entity and hence numerous authors have tried to circumvent biofilm occurrence utilizing various disinfectants or antibiotic solutions, applied directly to implants, and into the implant pockets ( Dang et al, 2020 ; Jewell et al, 2021 ; Nai et al, 2021 ).…”