Hospitalist Career and Resource Center

A new type of antibacterial coating for intravascular catheters could drastically reduce catheter-related bloodstream infections in hospital settings. A team of biomedical engineers and infectious disease specialists at Brown University have developed a polyurethane coating using a drug called auranofin that effectively kills methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, prevents the formation of stubborn biofilms, and keeps bacteria from developing a natural resistance. Although preliminary tests have revealed no harmful effects on human blood or liver cells, further testing will be required before the coating is used on patients.

View the complete article here.