Bayer MaterialScience Antimicrobial Makrolon® Polycarbonate Resin for Medical Applications Antimicrobial Makrolon® Polycarbonate Resin Poised to Provi

29 Feb 2008 • by Natalie Aster

PITTSBURGH -- A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there were 4.5 hospital infections for every 100 patient admissions and nearly 100,000 deaths from hospital infection in 2002. Recent studies indicate the rate is increasing due to antibiotic resistance. In response to these alarming statistics, Bayer MaterialScience LLC (BMS) has developed two grades of antimicrobial Makrolon® polycarbonate resin to be used in the production of medical devices.

Advances in antimicrobial technology now permit the use of silver-based inorganic antimicrobials in engineering thermoplastics to control the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria on the surface of medical devices. Incorporating these antimicrobials into BMS thermoplastics provides the potential to reduce the growth of bacteria on a medical device.

"Our focus at Bayer MaterialScience is to develop innovative products that meet a market need, and we know there's a problem in the healthcare market with infections," said Kevin Dunay, market segment leader for the consumer and medical segment, BMS. "Infections are costly, dangerous and deadly, and BMS is trying to address this problem with new products like antimicrobial Makrolon polycarbonate resin that can help inhibit the growth of bacteria."

Two developmental grades of antimicrobial Makrolon polycarbonate - grades DP1-1868 and DP1-1869 - have different levels of efficacy. With both grades, the antimicrobial additive is a component of the Makrolon polycarbonate formulation. Stain testing conducted by BMS shows that bacteria on untreated polycarbonate grow unabated, while bacteria growth on the antimicrobial Makrolon polycarbonate is virtually nonexistent.

Potential applications for antimicrobial Makrolon polycarbonate resin include intravenous (IV) access systems, urological devices, and housings for diagnostic and hospital equipment.

Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with nearly 14,900 employees at 30 sites around the world and 2006 sales of 10.2 billion euros from continuing operations. Our innovative developments in coatings, adhesive and sealant raw materials, polycarbonates, polyurethanes and thermoplastic urethane elastomers enhance the design and functionality of products in a wide variety of markets, including the automotive, construction, electrical and electronics, household and medical industries, and the sports and leisure fields. Our inorganic basic chemicals unit produces chlorine and related essential products for the chemicals industry. Let us give life to your vision. Bayer MaterialScience - Where VisionWorks.

Bayer Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, is a subsidiary of Bayer AG, an international health care, nutrition and innovative materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. In North America, Bayer had 2006 net sales of 7.8 billion euros and employed 17,200 at year end. Bayer's three subgroups, Bayer HealthCare, Bayer CropScience and Bayer MaterialScience, improve people's lives through a broad range of essential products that help prevent and treat diseases; protect crops and enhance yields; and advance automobile safety and durability.

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