| abstract |
A method and associated agents for the arrest of infections resulting from organism growth in contact with an iron-containing body fluid, comprising administering an agent capable of immobilizing the body fluid so that the iron it contains is nutritionally unavailable for the organism. In the instance where the body fluid is blood, the agent may be administered in amounts effective to bind all of the available red blood cells or hemoglobin, to prevent breakdown of either and consequent release of iron to the organism. The agents preferably include materials capable of binding red blood cells and iron, such as haptoglobin, colloidal silica, anion exchange resins and mixtures thereof. Preferably, colloidal silica is used either alone or in a composite with a polyoflefin elastomer such as polyisobutylene. The agents may be coated on carriers or substrates, such as gauze pads, tampons and the like, and may be thus utilized topically, as well as intraperitoneally. |