The Biopatch is a medical dressing used to protect sites where tubes or catheters enter the body. It is used for infection control in patients requiring indwelling medical devices. It creates a physical and chemical barrier against microbes that might travel along the device and into the bloodstream, reducing the risk of serious healthcare-associated infections.
Defining the Biopatch
The Biopatch is an antimicrobial dressing for percutaneous medical devices. Its physical structure is a small, hydrophilic polyurethane foam disk with a radial slit cut from the edge to the center. The material is highly absorptive, capable of soaking up to eight times its own weight in fluid, which helps to manage wound exudate and keep the skin surface dry. This unique shape allows the disk to fit snugly around the shaft of a catheter or tube, ensuring complete 360-degree coverage of the skin at the insertion point.
Primary Function: Preventing Catheter-Related Infections
The Biopatch reduces the incidence of Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections (CRBSIs) and local infections at the insertion site. Clinical studies have shown that the use of this dressing can reduce the risk of CRBSIs by as much as 60% in specific patient populations.
The patch is indicated for use with a wide range of indwelling vascular and non-vascular devices, including:
- Central venous catheters
- Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs)
- Arterial lines
- Dialysis catheters
- Epidural catheters
These devices create a direct pathway from the outside environment to the patient’s circulation, making the insertion point a vulnerable entry site for pathogens. By continuously protecting the skin surrounding the point of entry, the patch addresses this vulnerability.
Mechanism of Action and Unique Features
The infection-prevention capability of the Biopatch comes from its incorporation of Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG), an antiseptic agent. The CHG is embedded within the polyurethane foam matrix, which acts as a reservoir for the antiseptic. This design facilitates a slow, sustained release of the CHG onto the skin surface around the catheter.
This continuous release of the antiseptic provides protection for up to seven days. Chlorhexidine Gluconate has a broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antifungal activity, targeting common pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Candida species that are frequently implicated in CRBSIs. The patch’s ability to absorb exudate, combined with the continuous presence of CHG, is intended to prevent the rapid re-colonization of the skin by bacteria after initial antiseptic cleaning.
Proper Application and Removal
To ensure 360-degree coverage, the insertion site must be thoroughly cleaned with an antiseptic solution and allowed to dry completely before placement. The patch must be positioned with the white, antimicrobial side facing down to ensure the CHG is in direct contact with the patient’s skin.
The radial slit is aligned with the catheter tubing, and the edges of the slit must be approximated to maintain the patch’s integrity. Once positioned, the Biopatch is secured with a secondary transparent film dressing that covers both the patch and the catheter insertion area. The patch typically remains in place for up to seven days, coinciding with the routine dressing change schedule, but it should be changed sooner if it becomes saturated with blood or exudate.