Access Vascular Highlights New Bacterial Adhesion Data at AVA 2023

Access Vascular, Inc. (AVI), a company addressing the most common and costly vascular access complications with its advanced biomaterial platform, today announced findings from a new, in vitro study showing a significant reduction in bacterial adhesion and thrombus accumulation in peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) and midline catheters with AVI's MIMIXtm hydrophilic biomaterial (HBM).

Rates of central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) have risen as much as 51 percentⁱ since the COVID-19 pandemic; a single CLABSI case can cost hospitals more than in $1 million in lost revenue,ⁱⁱ not including impacts on CMS reimbursement. Most importantly, CLABSI can lead to a myriad of patient complications, ranging from extended hospital stay to an increased risk of death.ⁱⁱⁱ

The study, results of which were shared Oct. 14 at the annual scientific meeting of the Association for Vascular Access, compared bacterial adhesion on two polyurethane-based catheters and the HBM using in vitro blood flow and static models. The HBM demonstrated a 99.998 percent reduction in bacterial adhesion compared with the standard polyurethane catheter, and a 99.989 percent reduction compared with an augmented polyurethane material.

Additionally, the HBM catheter demonstrated a 96 percent reduction in surface thrombus accumulation, compared with the standard catheter, and a 95 percent reduction compared with the augmented polyurethane catheter. These findings are consistent with previously reported in vitro data on thrombus accumulation, based on platelet count,^iv,v with the HBM catheter.

"These results highlight the potential for catheters made from MIMIXtm to reduce bacterial adhesion, which often leads to central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and has devastating implications for already sick patients," said James Biggins, CEO of Access Vascular. "We are extremely pleased to share this data as the next step in establishing the true potential of MIMIXtm to improve the standard of care, take costs out of the healthcare system, and reduce the burden on nursing staff."

AVI also presented results at AVA from a separate study investigating the surface and frictional properties of the HydroPICC^® device. The study, published in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, showed a statistically significant decrease in the maximum insertion, maximum retraction, and average force with HydroPICC^® compared with standard and augmented polyurethane catheters.^vi

About Access Vascular

Access Vascular was founded to address the most common and costly complications of intravenous therapy: infection, thrombosis, and phlebitis. Taking a foundationally different approach to thrombus reduction, the company manufactures intravenous catheters from a proprietary hydrophilic material. Engineered to mimic the body's natural chemistry, Access Vascular catheters are designed to evade the foreign body response and the complications that come with it. Our award-winning, FDA-cleared products are HydroPICC^® and HydroMID^®. For more information, please visit www.accessvascularinc.com, and follow us on LinkedIn.

ⁱ Fakih, M., et al. (2021). Infection Control Hospital Epidemiology, 1-6. doi:10.1017/ice.2021.70

ⁱⁱ Shepard, J. J of Infection Control; 48 (2020) 255?260.

ⁱⁱⁱ Siempos II, Kopterides P, Tsangaris I, Dimopoulou I, Armaganidis AE. Impact of catheter-related bloodstream infections on the mortality of critically ill patients: a meta-analysis. Crit Care Med 2009; 37:2283-9.

^iv Mannarino MM, Bassett M, Donahue DT, Biggins JF. Novel high-strength thromboresistant poly (vinyl alcohol)-based hydrogel for vascular access applications. Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition. 2020 Mar 23;31(5):601-21. DOI: 10.1080/09205063.2019.1706148.

^v Data on file at Access Vascular. Reduction of thrombus accumulation was evaluated using in vitro and in vivo models.

Pre-clinical in vitro/in vivo evaluations do not necessarily predict clinical performance with respect to thrombus formation.

^vi LeRoy, K. J., & Donahue, D. T. (2023). Trackability of a high strength thromboresistant hydrogel catheter: An In vitro analysis comparing venous catheter forces in a simulated use pathway. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 1056070.