Efficacy evaluation of antimicrobial drug-releasing polymer matrices

Abstract

To assay in vitro antimicrobial activity of substances such as antibiotics or antiseptics, standard methods both in liquid and on solid media are available. These procedures cannot be adequate for testing antimicrobial-releasing or biocidal polymer systems. This chapter is focused on the description of methods that the authors have developed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of either antimicrobial agent-releasing polymers or biocidal polymers. These assays can be applied to different types of water-soluble or insoluble polymer matrices.