In-vitro efficacy of a central venous catheter complexed with iodine to prevent bacterial colonization

Infections of central venous lines are still a problem in daily medicine. Despite adequate antibiotic therapy, removal of an infected catheter often becomes necessary. A simple procedure has been developed by which a special hydrophilic central venous catheter (Secalon-Hydrocath) can be loaded with iodine. Iodine is complexed in the hydrophilic polyvinylpyrrolidone surface coating of the Hydrocath catheter and is released during contact with an aqueous medium