Laboratory evaluation of CHG containing IV dressings
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A laboratory evaluation of 3M™ Tegaderm™ CHG IV Securement Dressing in comparison with Biopatch® dressing
IRAS ID
192643
Contact name
TSJ Elliott (RETIRED)
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
In this laboratory study, we wish to investigate intravascular catheter (IV) dressings (dressings applied on the skin over a tube going into a patient's blood stream) which contain an antiseptic called chlorhexidine (CHG). During this study, it may be possible to demonstrate that one of the dressings releases higher amount of CHG onto the skin surface, allowing greater penetration of CHG into the skin, and reducing skin colonisation with harmful bacteria that may cause infection in patients who have IV catheters. This may be beneficial in the future to patients who require these medical devices.
We wish to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of the 3M™ Tegaderm chlorhexidine IV dressing in comparison with a Biopatch® dressing using a human skin model in the laboratory. The skin model enables evaluation of the antimicrobial efficacy of the dressings against pathogenic microorganisms in an environment similar to normal human skin. These microorganisms include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which commonly causes infections in patients with IV catheters. Furthermore, it enables us to investigate the quantity and depth of CHG penetration into the various layers of skin.
The laboratory experiments include time-kill assays (rate of killing of microorganisms), with the dressings alone or with a segment of IV catheter. Chlorhexidine diffusion from the dressings onto the skin and retention within the various layers of skin will also be evaluated.
The study is funded by 3M Health Care, USA. The study will be undertaken in the microbiology laboratories at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and Aston University, in collaboration with a pharmacology expert at the University of Huddersfield, over a 12-month period. Anonymised human donor skin obtained from a HTA licensed tissue services will be used for this research.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
15/WS/0275
Date of REC Opinion
19 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion