Lab Results Indicate Gore DualMesh Plus Biomaterial Inhibits MRSA Adherence

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- To help address the growing patient and hospital management challenges of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), W.L. Gore & Associates offers Gore DualMesh Plus Biomaterial, which has recently been reported to inhibit MRSA adherence in laboratory testing.

"We evaluated the Gore DualMesh Plus Biomaterial, which contains the antimicrobial agents silver and chlorhexidine, in several studies," said B. Todd Heniford, MD, FACS, chief of the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery at the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C. "In a series of in vitro and in vivo studies, we infected Gore DualMesh Plus Biomaterial and most of the other meshes available in the United States with S. aureus and MRSA. We noted that the antimicrobial agents in the Gore DualMesh Plus Biomaterial killed both S. aureus and MRSA very effectively. These beneficial results were not seen with other meshes."(1-2)

Gore DualMesh Plus Biomaterial is a two-sided, prosthetic patch indicated for the reconstruction of hernias and soft tissue deficiencies that is loaded with the antimicrobial agents silver and chlorhexidine. These agents act synergistically to inhibit microbial colonization of the device for up to 10 days post implantation. Silver binds with and destroys bacterial cell proteins. Chlorhexidine permeates bacterial cell walls causing disruption and leakage of the cell contents.

"We want physicians, infection control practitioners, and hospital procurement professionals to know they can rely on Gore DualMesh Plus Biomaterial for superior patient outcomes and also to help decrease the risk of microbial colonization of the device that might otherwise lead to device infection and all the associated complications," said Jared Parker, PhD, Gore product specialist.

Parker said the consequences of mesh device infection often include increased patient pain and discomfort, longer hospital stays to accommodate longer healing and recovery times, and additional surgery to remove the infected device. These consequences invariably lead to increased health care costs.

In addition to offering antimicrobial protection, Gore DualMesh Plus Biomaterial is engineered to have two functionally distinct surfaces. One side features the patented Corduroy Surface to promote rapid tissue ingrowth into the abdominal wall while the other, smooth side, features a closed structure that discourages visceral attachment.

References

1. Carbonell AM, Matthews BD, Dreau D, et al. The susceptibility of prosthetic biomaterials to infection. Surgical Endoscopy 2005;19:430-435.

2. Harrell AG, Novitsky YW, Kercher KW, et al. In vitro infectability of prosthetic mesh by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Hernia 2006;10(2):120-124.  

Source: W.L. Gore & Associates