TNAM, CT, USA - Foster Corporation, a leading provider of polymer solutions to the healthcare industry, has developed a new antimicrobial masterbatch, CombatTM, for incorporation into medical device polymers. Components made from these antimicrobial polymer blends are less susceptible to the development of bacteria and thus bacterial infections, such as methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE). According to a study by the American Center for Disease Control, the therapy itself is the cause of infections in 4 percent of all patients undergoing acute treatment in hospitals in the USA. Medical devices that remain in the body, such as central venous catheters (CVCs), are particularly susceptible to the colonization of bacteria that can enter the bloodstream. Medical device manufacturers are increasingly requesting antimicrobial additives for plastics to prevent the development of harmful bacteria on the surface of the components. Ionized silver is very effective in destroying bacteria and preventing their colonization. Additives based on this chemical substance are usually melted during the production of the antimicrobial medical device and mixed directly into the medical polymer. However, the development of multiple customized compound formulations can be costly. Combat Masterbatches, manufactured using Sciessent's Agion™ ionic silver technology, provide an economical solution for customers to test such antimicrobial fillers in medical devices: they can be dry-blended and thus tested at different proportions. "Combat Masterbatches are available in small quantities starting at 2 pounds to minimize the cost of initial evaluations," says Larry Johnson, vice president at Foster Corporation. "The small order quantities of just 2 to 10 percent, depending on the polymer and application, allow us to test different antimicrobial formulations."