Antibacterial coated medical implants

Abstract

An implantable medical device having long lasting resistance to staphylococcal biofilm colonization is provided. Implantable medical devices such as catheters, shunts, prosthesis, pacemakers, etc. are susceptible to colonization by biofilm adherent microorganisms, especially staphylococci. While systemic staphylococcal infections are effectively treated by many antibiotics, vancomycin being the antibiotic of choice, this same bacteria when encased in biofilm adhering to indwelling medical devices is generally resistant to antibiotic treatment. By the present invention, the combination of rifampin and minocycline or the combination of rifampin and novobiocin when coated on the surfaces of implantable medical devices unexpectedly provides superior antibacterial activity against staphylococcal biofilm colonization on the coated surface of indwelling medical devices.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.