Abstract
Abstract The risk of healthcare associated infections (HAI) is rising with the utilization of more complex medical devices. Cleaning and disinfecting measures of such devices are often insufficient leading to an increased microbiological contamination on these devices. Recent studies imply that antimicrobial coatings could present a solution for this topic. In this work a novel approach for the introduction of an antimicrobial technology into plastic granulate was tested. After 3-D printing the antimicrobial activity of the test samples was analysed. Our results show that the integration of an antimicrobial substance to ABS plastic is feasible only with sophisticated plastic processing technologies. Simple heating or mixing of the substance did not allow integration of the antimicrobial substance into the 3-D printed sample, but it was possible to integrate the antimicrobial ingredient into the raw material by compounding. The printed test samples showed strong antimicrobial activity in the standardized test procedures.
Highlights
Antimicrobial surface coatings cannot replace cleaning and disinfection measures, but they can be a very useful supplement
Our aim was to produce antimicrobially active granulate that could be processed by the freeformer 3-D printer and showed an antibacterial effect in the antibacterial effectiveness test
Our results showed that it is not possible to just introduce the antimicrobial agent into the ABS granulate by mixing or melting it down
Summary
Antimicrobial surface coatings cannot replace cleaning and disinfection measures, but they can be a very useful supplement. The general function principles either prevents the adhering of microbiological contaminations to the surface or degrades it when in contact with the surface, reducing the level of contamination. Various technologies with different modes of action are used for the antimicrobial activity of surfaces. They keep their antimicrobial effectiveness over the entire product life cycle. The antimicrobial coatings can be applied in or on products by different approaches, for example by extrusion or electrospray technique. [1] In particular, everyday clinical objects such as work area surfaces, equipment covers, cannulas, catheters or implants The antimicrobial coatings can be applied in or on products by different approaches, for example by extrusion or electrospray technique. [1] In particular, everyday clinical objects such as work area surfaces, equipment covers, cannulas, catheters or implants
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