Definition: One in every 25 patients has at least one hospital associated infection. One in every four of these is related to a medical device, such as indwelling cathters. Antimicrobial additives, such as ionic silver, can be added to medical plastics to prevent or reduce the infection from these devices.
Purpose: Provide an understanding of the causes of hospital infections and the antimicrobial solutions for reduced incidence rates, with particular focus on additives that can be added to medical plastics.