Observe medical – Scientific article provides evidence of Sippi® technology reducing microbial biofilm formation

The article “Making medical devices safer: impact of plastic and silicone oil on microbial biofilm formation” was recently published in Journal of Hospital Infection, Volume 106, Issue 1, P155-162, 2020. The article is based on an independent, investigator-initiated study, which evaluated a new method, using a silicone oil (patented Sippcoat® technology used in Sippi®) to limit biofilm formation. Medical devices face the challenge of formation of microbial biofilm (treatment-resistant colonies of bacteria and fungi), on their surfaces. Biofilm increases the risk of patient infection, and the risk of device malfunction. Efficient and reliable methods to reduce biofilm formation are until now lacking.

In the article Dr. Martin Slettengren and colleagues at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, demonstrate that silicon oil significantly decreases biofilm formation -a risk factor for both patient infection and device malfunction, from a series of bacteria, including several multi-resistant strains, and from fungi (p<0.001-0.0001). This suggests a new strategy to reduce hospital-acquired infections and make medical device function safer.

“Cather-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is a significant clinical complication, causing both patient suffering and added costs for the healthcare system. This article shows that silicone oil, a patented Sippcoat® technology used in Sippi® system, significantly reduces biofilm formation, thereby lowering the risk for bacterial migration and patient infection. This is fully in line with the mission of Observe Medical, to improve the clinical outcome for patients and enable a more efficient care system, by improved urine monitoring with the Sippi® system, – a clinical need further highlighted by the current Covid-19 situation” says Björn Larsson, CEO of Observe Medical.