catheter

January 12, 20243min readA 3-D-printed tube stymies microbes with a tiny obstacle course to combat rampant infections in hospitalsBy Joanna Thompson More than 100 million people worldwide require a urinary catheter every year. The devices can be lifesaving, especially after surgery. But many of those who used them—about one quarter in developing countries and about an eighth in the U.S.—may develop a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), commonly caused by bacteria building up inside the tube.Now, with…

Today, December 19, has turned out to be an important day for artificial intelligence, especially for India. The government has announced that it has commenced the process of formulating regulations on AI to foster development, protection, and innovation in this space. In other news, IBM has revealed its plans to acquire StreamSets and webMethods platforms of Software AG for a total of 2.3 billion dollars in a bid to improve its own AI offerings. This and more in today's AI roundup. Let us take a closer look.Indian…

As a less invasive alternative to open-heart surgery, cardiac surgeons are increasingly accessing the heart from within using central venous catheters. An experimental new catheter could soon make such procedures quicker and easier than ever before.Ordinarily when using a central venous catheter for heart surgery, the device is inserted into a vein in the patient's neck, chest, arm or groin via a small incision.The surgeon then guides the catheter up that vein and into the heart, typically guided by ultrasound images.…

“It’s a particular issue where specialised catheters (like central venous catheters) need to be in place for weeks and months,” says Simula.“Biofilm on the catheter can cause infections in the blood and in Australia there is an estimated 4000 such infections each year from central venous catheters.“Approximately 20 per cent of these patients may die. The cost to Medicare from these infections is estimated at $36 million per year. Globally the healthcare costs are staggering, at over $2 billion per year.”These sobering…