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TekniPlex Healthcare antimicrobial medical compounds can be utilized to produce a number of patient-contact products, including catheters, connectors, gas hoses, injection systems like syringes, and needle-free injectors such as pens. Available for formulation and production, the products can incorporate silver ion technology proven to reduce the risk of contamination due to bacteria buildup.
TekniPlex polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) compounds are formulated with silver ion technology. To produce its antimicrobial series of products, TekniPlex Healthcare integrates the silver ion additives—which have natural antimicrobial properties—with its array of medical-grade flexible and rigid PVC compounds or its medical-grade Cellene® TPE compounds. Formulating a medical product with antimicrobial compounds provides protection throughout the product’s lifespan.
When challenged by the presence of bacteria on a surface, the release of silver ions inhibit a bacteria cellʼs ability to reproduce. The silver ions enter the cell through its outer layer, block enzymes to prevent the cell from generating energy, and disrupt its DNA, removing its ability to split and create a duplicate of itself.
The technology is effective against a wide range of bacteria from Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella to antibiotic-resistant bacteria like Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).
Products made with silver-containing compounds can achieve 80% bacteria reduction in 15 min, and are over 99.9% effective after two hr. Tested to ISO 22196:2011 standards, TekniPlex Healthcare’s medical-grade compounds were shown to reduce E. coli and staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) by over 99.9% in 24 hr.
“Developing ways to reduce the risk for bacterial growth in clinical settings aligns with our longstanding commitment to improving patient outcomes through materials science solutions,” says Chris Qualters, CEO of TekniPlex Healthcare. “A clean clinical environment benefits both patients and staff, and the ability to incorporate this technology in direct patient contact items like catheters, connectors, gas hoses, and injection devices is highly valuable.”
