MRSA Notes

Chitin, found in shells of crustaceans, contains Chitosan, which is currently being tested as an infection preventative in implanted medical devices. The substance, harmless to humans and currently used in a variety of different applications, has shown to cause injury to bacteria that choose to attempt to attach to it, resulting in a much lowered risk of infection.

This is great news for anyone who will have to live with implanted devices in their bodies, or even more temporary devices, as these things all provide a breeding ground for bacteria, and are one of the top causes of complications.

During my husbands’ 33 day stay in the hospital with MRSA septicemia, each IV, cathetar and port he had put in had to be replaced at least once, some more than once, as they formed a biofilm and infection. When you are talking about things like dialysis cathetars, which are put in to your major veins, this is not easy to replace, nor is it without risks. I have a dear friend going through this right now, and let me just say that these infections are the dead last thing she needs to be dealing with right now. Had this been available, Tony Field might still have his leg intact.

Biofilms are considered the leading cause of up to 400,000 cases of catheter-related, bloodstream infections each year, Stewart said. In addition, biofilms can arise on virtually any device implanted in the body, including mechanical heart valves, contact lens, artificial hips and knees, and breast implants. Once a biofilm-induced infection takes hold, it can be difficult to treat and often requires the surgical removal of the affected device, he said.

If further testing in animals and humans proves successful, coating these devices with chitosan could become an important first line of defense, according to Stewart. “I don’t want to claim we’ve fully solved the problem here,” he said, “but … I think over the next 10 years we’re going to be seeing new technologies in the form of coatings that will prevent or at least reduce the incidence of infection.”

Chitosan is derived from chitin, the main component of crustacean shells. It is sold commercially as a nutritional supplement and is an FDA-approved material for staunching blood loss. Chitosan also is used in biomaterials, as a thickener in cosmetics and a flocculating agent in water treatment. As a biomaterial, chitosan has a track record for its non-toxicity, biocompatibility, ability to promote healing and its inherent antimicrobial properties.

Source

chitin, chitosan, implants, infection, Infection Prevention, MRSA, Research and Development

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