External ventricular drain(EVD) exposes the patient to infectious complications which are associated with significant morbidity and economic burden. Biomaterials impregnated with various antimicrobial agents have been developed to decrease the rate of bacterial colonization and subsequent infection. While promising, antibiotics and silver-impregnated EVD showed conflicting clinical results. The aim of the present review is to discuss the challenges associated with the development of antimicrobial EVD catheters and their effectiveness from the bench to the bedside.
Keywords: antibiotics impregnated; bacteria; biofilm; biomaterial; external ventricular drain; silver nanoparticles.