Antimicrobial Efficacy of Exposure of Medical Metal Implants to Direct Electric Current

The antimicrobial effect of direct electric current passing through metal implantable medical devices was evaluated. An in vitro study showed that the maximum antimicrobial effect on S. aureus (54.2% average microbial growth inhibition) was achieved at a current of 300 μA applied for 1 min; the maximum antimicrobial effect on E. coli (57.3% average microbial growth inhibition), at 150 μA for 3 min; on P. aeruginosa (40.8%), at 150 μA for 1 min. The study showed that the use of metal medical implants as electrodes has an antimicrobial effect on various pathogenic microorganisms. Thus, exposure to direct electric current can be used for antibacterial treatment of orthopedic implants.