Materials and methods for controlling infections
The subject invention provides materials methods for reducing infections in subjects. The materials methods utilize chlorhexidine, which has been found to be surprisingly non-toxic. The lack of toxicity facilitates the use of chlorhexidine in contexts that were not previously thought to be possible.
1. An indwelling medical device which is a joint implant having a surface with a coating thereon in which coating chlorhexidine gluconate is incorporated such that, when implanted, chlorhexidine gluconate, at a concentration of 1% or less, is present at the surface of the implant.
2. The indwelling medical device, according to claim 1 , wherein the chlorhexidine gluconate is present at a concentration of 0.05% or less.
3. The indwelling medical device, according to claim 2 , wherein the device is a shoulder, hip, knee, or vertebrae implant.
4. The indwelling medical device, according to claim 3 , which is an vertebrae implant.
5. The indwelling medical device, according to claim 2 , wherein the coating is a polymer.
6. The indwelling medical device, according to claim 5 , wherein the polymer is a hydrogel.