Efficacy of silver nanoparticles-impregnated external ventricular drain catheters in patients with acute occlusive hydrocephalus.

Introduction: Catheter-associated infection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a potentially life-threatening complication of external ventricular drainage (EVD). The purpose of this pilot study was to address the efficacy of silver-impregnated EVD catheters in neurological and neurosurgical patients requiring external CSF drainage due to acute occlusive hydrocephalus.

Methods: Nineteen consecutive patients were enrolled in the treatment arm of the study and data were prospectively recorded for these patients.

Silver segregation and bacterial growth of intraventricular catheters impregnated with silver nanoparticles in cerebrospinal fluid drainages.

Objectives: Intraventricular catheters impregnated with silver nanoparticles are developed to reduce catheter-associated infections in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainages. Silver released from these new catheters should have an anti-microbacterial effect. This study examines the silver ion release and a potential effect of bacterial growth in an in vitro experiment.