Mod Chem Appl. 2013, 1:3
Hospital-Associated Infections (HAI) are commonly caused by the invasive device and prosthesis implanted in the
body. The practice of coating antimicrobial agents on biomedical surfaces or modifying the composite resin with such
agents has been shown effective in reducing the incidence of HAI. Quaternary Ammonium Chloride (QAC) salts and
the Organosilicon derivatives (OrganoSiQAC) are surface active to serve these applications. Clinically, Benzalkonium
chloride (BAC) is effective against a board range of microorganisms. However, it has been recognized as the source
of several hospital outbreaks due to contamination with gram-negative bacteria. Safety aspects such as potential
toxicities and in vivo efficacies were poorly defined. On the other hand, physical antimicrobial polymers formed by
OrganoSiQAC compounds were found to be chemically stable and nonleachable from the bonded surface, whereas
the biocidal effects were exerted by the end satellite QAC groups. Recent studies have also reported the application
of such bioactive films on animated surfaces such as skin and mucosal lining. This opens the future perspective with
multiple applications in infection control, in the regards of reduce use of antibiotics, treatment alternatives for multiple
antibiotic resistance, blocking the route of transmission of specific organisms in clinical and community settings.
