Parylene coatings for medical articles that are cleanable and reduce microbial touch transfer

A medical article comprising:

• a first major surface and a second major surface, comprising a polymer composition containing one or more extractable components;
• and
• a transparent vapor-deposited coating of a barrier polymer derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer covering at least a portion of the first major surface, such that the vapor-deposited polymer coating barrier reduces the extraction of extractable component(s) from the tube, and provides a reduction in microorganism touch transfer of at least 20% and provides increased wet out of cleaning solvent compared to an identical article without the transparent vapor-deposited coating.

A method of preparing a medical article comprising:

• providing a tube with an interior surface and an exterior surface, comprising a polymer composition containing one or more extractable components;
• and
• vapor coating a barrier polymer derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer onto at least a portion of at least the exterior surface of the tube.