Daily Clinical News – Non-removable coating actively kills bacteria that contaminate medical device surfaces – Surgical Techniques

The unwashable coating actively kills bacteria contaminating the surface of medical devices

Authors: HospiMedica International employees
Published June 28, 2024

Every year, millions of medical devices are used or implanted in patients around the world. Despite rigorous sterilization protocols, device-related infections are an increasing problem. Research indicates that 70-100% of products removed from joint implants due to failure show contamination from various sources. Operating rooms, despite rigorous cleanliness standards, often harbor bacteria, leading to a high risk of implant failure and infection. These infections can cause pain, limited mobility, expensive additional surgeries, and even death. Currently, innovative antibacterial therapy can be applied to each implantable device, providing effective protection against microorganisms responsible for most problems associated with orthopedic devices.

Orthobond Corporation (Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, USA) is a pioneer in the technique of covalently bonding an antibacterial molecule to the implant surface. Using advanced covalent linker technology, Ostaguard treatment provides effective antibacterial protection directly on the device surface, combating a broad spectrum of pathogens, including S. aureusMRSA, S. epidermidis, P. acne, P. aeruginosa, E. coliAND C. leukemiaOstaguard has been rigorously tested on a wide range of surfaces against 12 microorganisms that cause virtually all device-related infections. It has been shown to be highly effective in eliminating many strains of bacteria that can be found in surgical settings, while being harmless to mammalian cells.

Photo: Ostaguard is a patented antibacterial treatment that can be used with any existing implantable device (Photo courtesy of Orthobond)

Ostaguard antimicrobial surface treatment is versatile enough to be used on a variety of device surfaces, including those used in joint reconstruction, neuromodulation, oncology, sports medicine, plastic surgery and cardiovascular procedures. This proprietary technology is incorporated into the manufacturing process before the device is packaged and sterilized. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved De Novo’s marketing application for Ostaguard for use on durable medical devices, marking it as the first FDA-approved non-leaking coating that actively kills bacteria on the surface of a medical device. The pre-approved application concerns orthopedic spinal implants.

“We are proud of our evidence-based FDA submission and look forward to making our innovative technology available to a broad range of customers. We believe our surface coatings have the potential to become the standard for implantable devices that protect patients from pathogens and that this will be transformative in surgery and beyond,” said David Nichols, CEO of Orthobond. “This is a significant moment in Orthobond’s history and the fulfillment of the vision of our co-founders, Gregory Lutz, MD, and Jeffrey Schwartz, MD, who were committed to helping patients and physicians by providing a much-needed, easy-to-implement antibacterial option for implant protection. This milestone also serves as another testament to Gregory’s legacy, and we are proud to carry it into the next chapter.”

Related links:
Ortobond company