Electron Cyclotron Resonance Hydrogen Plasma Induced Defects in Thermally Grown and Spuiter Deposited SiO₂

ABSTRACTIn this study we show that upon exposure to electron cyclotron resonance hydrogen plasmas, both thermally grown and sputter deposited oxides are degraded, resulting in large shifts of flat band voltage, and increases in fixed charge and interface state density.</jats:p

Colonization-Resistant Antimicrobial-Coated Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters: Evaluation in a Newly Developed Rat Model of Persistent Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Peritonitis

ObjectiveDevelopment of a rat model of persistent peritonitis and evaluation of the ability of liposomal ciprofloxacin hydrogel-coated silicone to resist colonization.DesignA newly developed model of persistent Pseudomonas aeruginosa peritonitis to compare the ability of liposomal ciprofloxacin hydrogel (LCH)-coated silicone versus plain silicone for resistance to bacterial colonization.AnimalsMale Sprague–Dawley rats.ResultsInoculating the peritoneum of rats with 1 mL 0.5% agar containing 106colony-forming units (cfu)/mL P. aeruginosa in the presence of a plain silicone coupon resulted in persistent peritonitis for at least 7 days. Plain silicone coupons in all 40 rats were colonized (median 2.54 × 103cfu/cm2; range 5.0 × 101– 1.0 × 106cfu/cm2) and peritoneal washings were consistently culture-positive. In contrast, the LCH coupons removed after 7 days from the 40 test rats were sterile, as were the peritoneal washings, and there was no evidence of peritonitis. Blood cultures were negative in both groups.ConclusionsLiposomal ciprofloxacin hydrogel-coated silicone resists colonization in this rat model of persistent P. aeruginosa peritonitis.</jats:sec