Catheter technology fights MRSA

Link: HEALTH AWARENESS.

Now there is a technology that helps to prevent contamination and growth of certain bacteria within the needleless IV access device commonly used with IV catheters. Baxter Healthcare Corporation recently introduced the V-Link Luer-activated device (LAD) with VitalShield protective coating, making it available for hospitals around the country. V-Link with VitalShield is the first needleless IV connector to contain an antimicrobial coating and has been shown to kill on average 99.9 percent of specific common pathogens known to cause catheter-related bloodstream infections, including MRSA. Silver has been used for centuries as an antimicrobial agent, and the specially designed silver formulation that coats this device has been shown to be effective against a broad spectrum of infection-causing agents. The silver antimicrobial coating helps prevent the contamination and growth of specific pathogens within the device. Reduction in colonization or microbial growth on the device has not yet been studied to substantiate a reduction in infections.