New data presented at the Infusion Nurses Society Annual Scientific Meeting showcased the significant impact of MIMIX® hydrophilic biomaterial (HBM), created by Access Vascular, Inc. (AVI), on bacterial adhesion and thrombus accumulation in peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and midline catheters. Compared to conventional catheters, AVI’s biomaterial demonstrated compelling potential in reducing the incidence and cost of vascular access complications.
The study unveiled a noteworthy 99.999% reduction in bacterial adhesion when the HBM is compared with standard polyurethane catheters and a Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)-coated polyurethane counterpart. James Biggins, founder and CEO of Access Vascular, highlighted how this research adds to existing evidence indicating the HBM’s role in combating the most common and expensive complications associated with vascular access devices. Surfaces of the HBM catheter also exhibited a 97% reduction in thrombus accumulation compared to the CHG-coated polyurethane catheter and a 98% reduction when set against standard polyurethane. Multiple previous studies validate the HBM catheter’s inherent thromboresistance.
Central-Line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) can drastically extend the hospital length of stay, increase costs by more than $55,000 per admission, and pose a severe mortality risk in ICU patients. In dollar terms, a single CLABSI case can cost the hospital over $1 million in lost revenue without accounting for CMS reimbursement impacts and patient complications. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, CLABSI infection rates have seen a dramatic increase as much as 51%.
AVI’s commitment to alleviating the most common and costly IV therapy complications via its proprietary hydrophilic material signifies a potential game-changer in the field. This advanced biomaterial is designed to mirror natural body chemistry and evade the complexities of a foreign body response. IG Therapy Services at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut has seen a drastic drop in catheter-related bloodstream infections since they started using AVI’s HydroMID® catheters in 2023.