Antimicrobial materials and devices are becoming increasingly important in hospital and healthcare environments. Hospital-acquired infections and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Of the approximately 1.7 million HAIs in the United States annually, nearly 100,000 patients die from these infections and many more require extended hospitalization and medical treatment. The annual direct cost of HAIs to U.S. hospitals is estimated between $28 and $33 billion.
Most HAIs are related to the use of medical devices and typically occur during procedures that breach the skin or introduce a foreign object into the body such as catheterization, intubation, intravenous access, and the use of surgical implants and devices. Many of these devices provide a breeding ground for bacteria and slime-like aggregations of bacteria known as biofilms, which are nearly impossible to kill with conventional antibiotics.
Medical device manufacturers are looking to incorporate technologies into their medical devices to reduce the potential for patient infections. Biomerics offers antimicrobial technologies that may be applied via coatings or compounding processes. As a leading expert in antimicrobial testing and validation requirements, we will partner with you to develop and apply antimicrobial technologies to the most unique short and long-term devices.
