Polypropylene IUCD retrieval fibers: Surface morphology, material properties, microbial attachment, and migration

Abstract

Highly drawn and oriented polypropylene fibers used for the retrieval thread of the Cu-7 intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) are compared as to surface morphology and crystallinity with polypropylene fibers prepared under different conditions. A series of experiments also demonstrates the colonization of the surface of polyolefin fibers by pathogenic bacteria that are often found in the human vagina. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the retrieval threads appear to encourage pathogenic bacteria to migrate across the surface of agar. The results also indicate that control of drawing and annealing can avoid the surface fibrillation and tendency to fail by separation into a bundle of multifilaments that are observed with the IUCD retrieval threads.

Surface roughness enhances upward migration of bacteria on polymer fibers above liquid cultures

“…Only straight portions of fibers without kinks were employed. In the as received condition, the fibers exhibited occasional longitudinal crevices and erupted fibrils as described previously by Warner et al [7] and Coughlin et al [6].…”

“…Rather than possibly introducing a positive error in estimated migration distance by including the entire length of the topmost segment, it was decided instead not to include such segment, thereby obtaining a conservative estimate of total migration distance. That the resolution of this method is no greater than a segment length is indicated by previously reported [5,6] observations that bacteria would migrate along the entire length (up to several cm) of a segment of PP fiber while it rested in contact with agar during a period of 24 h. If the topmost segment of a fiber which showed any evidence of bacteria was the marked segment that penetrated the liquid interface and extended into the gas space above the liquid, then the ascension distance was taken as zero Measured data for migration on soaked and non-presoaked fibers has been combined to compute X, Sn-l and C.L. R Fibers had been roughened S Fibers were not abraded for that fiber.…”

“…151 and Coughlin et al [6], although the former authors pointed out that microscopically thin films of water may be present between the fibers and the adjacent agar and thus play a role in the observed migration. It has been argued [6,7] that the rough surfaces of the Cu-7 IUCD may abet the attachment and migration of bacteria.…”

“…151 and Coughlin et al [6], although the former authors pointed out that microscopically thin films of water may be present between the fibers and the adjacent agar and thus play a role in the observed migration. It has been argued [6,7] that the rough surfaces of the Cu-7 IUCD may abet the attachment and migration of bacteria. These authors observed that the surfaces of such polypropylene retrieval strings have multiple longitudinal channels or grooves formed by the spontaneous generation of smaller fibrils that erupt from the surfaces of the fibers.…”

“…Except for a slight difference in diameter, these monofilament fibers are the same as fibers that have been used as tail strings in some IUCDS. They have been previously studied and physicochemically characterized by Warner et al [7], Coughlin et al [6], Mahmoud et al [5], Roylance et al [8]. They are the same fibers used by Magnotta et al [ 1 1 ].…”