Abstract | PURPOSE: The antibacterial activity of silver-containing compounds has recently been employed in constructing medical devices, such as vascular and urinary catheters, that may be effective in blocking infection. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a silver oxide-coated urinary catheter. PATIENTS AND METHODS: RESULTS:
Bacteriuria developed in 85 of 745 patients (11.4%) in the silver-coated catheter group and in 73 of 564 patients (12.9%) in the control group (P = 0.45). In women who did not receive antibiotics, the rates were 29.3% and 30.4%, respectively (P = 0.98). In men who did not receive antibiotics, the rate of bacteriuria was significantly higher with the silver-coated catheter (29.4% compared to 8.3%, respectively, P = 0.02). Staphylococcal species were isolated more often from the silver-coated catheter group than from the control group (25% versus 8% of all isolates, respectively, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: This study, the largest ever reported evaluating any silver-impregnated device, has not only failed to demonstrate the efficacy of silver in prevention of catheter-associated bacteriuria, as suggested in prior studies, but it has also shown a significantly increased incidence of bacteriuria in male patients and a significantly increased occurrence of staphylococcal bacteriuria. These results suggest the need for caution and for similar large-scale trials before silver-containing compounds are widely used for preventing device-associated infections, both in vascular and urinary catheters.
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Authors | D K Riley, D C Classen, L E Stevens, J P Burke |
Journal | The American journal of medicine
(Am J Med)
Vol. 98
Issue 4
Pg. 349-56
(Apr 1995)
ISSN: 0002-9343 [Print] United States |
PMID | 7709947
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
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Chemical References |
- Oxides
- Silver Compounds
- disilver oxide
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Topics |
- Bacteriuria
(etiology, prevention & control)
- Catheters, Indwelling
(adverse effects)
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Oxides
(therapeutic use)
- Risk Factors
- Silver Compounds
(therapeutic use)
- Staphylococcal Infections
(etiology)
- Superinfection
(etiology)
- Treatment Failure
- Urinary Catheterization
(adverse effects)
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