Amandi Hiyare: Before forming my research question, I had a discussion with my research project coordinator “Lisa Pope” who told me that the Flinders nanotechnology research team has been developing microbial catheters. Then on Monday I had an interview with Professor Joe Shapter who told me that your team was leading this project. So I was wondering whether you would be able to provide me with some detailed information about this innovation? Prof. Amanda Ellis: The problem with catheters is the ability to get bacterial attachment to the surface of the polymer. There are two approaches to this problem using nanotechnology: coating or copolymerization. The approach of the coating works when an antimicrobial layer is placed on top of the lens. The antimicrobial the Flinders Research team has been using is an extract from cloves. Dentists have also been using this compound to stop oral infections. The other approach is when the antimicrobial agent is combined with the polymer and this is called ‘copolymerization’. The reason why copolymerization is more effective is the coating can be abraded off. However with the copolymerization the antimicrobial is part of the compound and forms covalent bonds (share of electrons). It is important that the bonds are strong as the material could come out of the polymer and cause even more damage. …show more content…
Amanda Ellis: I guess you would call it ‘Bio-mimicry’. As you are at a very small scale ‘nano-scale’ which is beyond white blood cells and red blood cells, nanotechnology fools the body that it is a normal material. A lot of studies go looking at biocompatible polymers, which are polymers that are bio compatible in the sense that the body does not find it toxic. There are a lot of people that are working with DNA nanotechnology. An example of Prof. Ellis’s research is delivering cancer drugs through a DNA strand with the use of a nano-scale box. Humans have DNA, which is about 50% different than a banana. As DNA is
BioPatch, and alternatives like Tegaderm CHG, are an important first step in helping prevent catheter-related bloodstream infections (CBIs). As CBIs rank among the most frequent and potentially lethal nosocomial infections, the need for a device to cut down infections at the insertion site has increased. The growing numbers of infections has driven companies to consider a three-tiered approach: a maximal aseptic barrier at insertion, proper site maintenance, and hub protection. With BioPatch and alternative products catheter sites receive that maximal aseptic barrier to prevent bacteria growth.
At the moment, the main objective for scientists and engineers is to develop surgery into a minimal invasive method and nanote...
Tesfahunegn Z, Asrat D, Woldeamanuel Y, Estifanos K (2009) Bacteriology of surgical site and catheter related urinary tract infections among patients admitted in Mekelle Hospital, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia. Ethiop Med J. 47(2):117-27.
Yacopetti, N., Davidson, P., Blacka, J., & Spencer, T. (2013). Preventing contamination at the time of central venous catheter insertion: a literature review and recommendations for clinical practice. Journal Of Clinical Nursing, 22(5/6), 611-620. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04340.x
... The advanced technology of surface modification in the biomedical sector have the ability to offer not an improvement in the tribological properties only but also to improve the clinical requirements prior and post implantation. Such properties includes cell growth and antibacterial effect.
Catheter Acquired Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs) has become to be classified as one among the leading infections which most individuals end up being susceptible to acquire while at the hospital. Healthcare-associated or acquired infections (HAIs) are a significant cause of illness, death, and more often than not, have resulted to cost the tax payers potentially high medical expenses in most health care settings. ("Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality," para. 1) Due to this, 1 out of every 20 patients will end up with CAUTI within the US hospitals and this has caused Agency for healthcare research and quality (AHRQ) to embark on nationwide plans to help in the eradication and control of CAUTI incidences. ("Agency
2013). Inappropriate use of urinary catheter in patients as stated by the CDC includes patients with incontinence, obtaining urine for culture, or other diagnostic tests when the patient can voluntarily void, and prolonged use after surgery without proper indications. Strategies used focused on initiating restrictions on catheter placement. Development of protocols that restrict catheter placement can serve as a constant reminder for providers about the correct use of catheters and provide alternatives to indwelling catheter use (Meddings et al. 2013). Alternatives to indwelling catheter includes condom catheter, or intermittent straight catheterization. One of the protocols used in this study are urinary retention protocols. This protocol integrates the use of a portable bladder ultrasound to verify urinary retention prior to catheterization. In addition, it recommends using intermittent catheterization to solve temporary issues rather than using indwelling catheters. Indwelling catheters are usually in for a longer period. As a result of that, patients are more at risk of developing infections. Use of portable bladder ultrasound will help to prevent unnecessary use of indwelling catheters; therefore, preventing
Central lines (CL) are used frequently in hospitals throughout the world. They are placed by trained health care providers, many times nurses, using sterile technique but nosocomial central line catheter associated blood stream infections (CLABSI) have been a dangerous issue. This is a problem that nurses need to pay particular attention to, and is a quality assurance issue, because CLABSI’s “are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and health care costs” (The Joint Commission, 2012). There have been numerous studies conducted, with the objective to determine steps to take to decrease CLABSI infection rate, and research continues to be ongoing today. The problem is prevalent on many nursing units, with some patients at great risk than others, but some studies have shown if health care providers follow the current literature, or evidence based guidelines, CLABSIs can be prevented (The Joint Commission, 2012). The purpose of this paper is to summarize current findings related to this topic, and establish a quality assurance (QA) change plan nurses can implement for CL placement and maintenance, leading to decreased risk of nosocomial CLABSIs.
• Clean the catheter with soap and water as often as told by your health care provider.
The novel “Prey” by Michael Crichton, follows Jack Foreman as he uncovers the secrets and lies upon a new creation:nanotechnology. Jack, a stay at home dad, has to adjust to his new lifestyle. When he loses his job as a head of a programming team, he must take care of his three kids, Eric, Nicole and Amanda. While Jack stays at home, his wife, Julia, works at the company Xymos as the Vice President. Xymos technology was developing a form of nanotechnology, and they were making some great progress. The nanobots were as small as a blood cell and could go into the human body and transmit pictures of the inside. There was a lot of pressure on them though, because they were trying to raise twenty million dollars in venture capitalists. Julia is gone often
One day, this writer happened to see another nurse changing a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Line dressing. As a nurse leader, this writer asked the nurse why she is changing the dressing. The caregiver explained dressing changes can prevent infection to the site and there are lot of patients readmitted because of central line infections and subsequent complications. This nurse demonstrated good kn...
INTRODUCTION Peripheral intravenous catheters show benefit in Cabooltures emergency departments every day, however emergency department has noticed PIC dislodging 48 hours after being inserted. The focus of this research trial is to compare the two types of patient group’s, standard group who used transparent cloth- bordered polyurethane dressing to PIC and skin group who transparent cloth boarded polyurethane dressing + cyanoacrylate glue to hold PIC, comparison was investigated. Patients selected for groups comprised of patients admitted to the emergency department with preexisting inserted PIC, aged 18 years plus. Primary issue concentrated on PIC failure at 48 hours in emergency departments and inferior outcomes included different IVC
Nanotechnology includes nanorobots which are so small that they can be injected into the human bloodstream after which the nanorobots can do investigations or repair at cellular level. Nanorobots could optimize the delivery of pharmaceutical products, these means that medicines which are targeted on a specific type of cells can be delivered to only those cells by the nanorobots. The robots can attach to the cells after which they can inject the drug into the target cells. This could be a great breakthrough for cancer treatments such as chemotherapy because there is a minimal chance of injecting healthy cells with the drug and therefor negative side effects can be avoided.
...allic glass mesh shaped in to an opened end tube. This could help in continuing blood-flow and minimalizing the chance of Stenosis coming back to the same area. This will be a new revolutionary breakthrough in bio medics and could very well save many lives.
I have chosen nanotechnology as my topic area of choice from the food innovation module.