November 25, 2008 – TYRX Inc. today announced the 1,000th implant of the AIGISRx Antibacterial Envelope following its commercialization in June.
AIGISRx is an antibacterial surgical mesh developed to deliver antimicrobial agents that help provide protection against infections associated with implanted pacemakers and cardioverter defibrillators.
David Delurgio, M.D., director of electrophysiology services, Crawford Long of Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA, implanted the 1,000th AIGISRx in a 61-year-old woman who received a replacement bi-ventricular pacemaker. Dr. Delurgio placed the pacemaker into the AIGISRx Antibacterial Mesh and positioned the device normally within the surgically created pocket. Once implanted, AIGISRx provides an adjunct to general antibiotic therapy by providing localized antibiotic therapy from the antibiotics minocycline and rifampin.
“AIGISRx represents a significant advance in possibly protecting our patients from current and emerging infections, representing the majority of organisms implicated in ‘pocket infections’ following the implantation of pacemakers or cardioverter defibrillators,” Dr. Delurgio said. “The demonstrated benefits of AIGISRx may prove to be cost-effective by potentially preventing serious and life-threatening infections, including those caused by superbugs such as MRSA. AIGISRx Anti-bacterial Mesh protects against this risk by providing localized antibiotics as an adjunct to normal antibiotic therapy.”
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates about 2 million patients contract nosocomial infections annually, with 50 percent being associated with indwelling devices. In testimony before Congress, The Leap Frog Group pointed to the fact that “hospital acquired infections (HAI) add over $15,000 to a patient’s hospital bill, amounting to over $30 billion a year wasted on avoidable costs.”
For more information: www.tyrx.com
March 26, 2024 
