Abstract: Techniques and apparatus are described for applying alternating and/or pulsed, electrical charges to open circuitry incorporated into medical devices intended to be placed into contact with portions of the body. A catheter assembly is described which comprises a catheter tube, an exterior portion of which is circumferentially surrounded by at least two parallel elongated helical conductive elements which may be operably connected to a power source to create a open circuit to induce an antimicrobial effect in the area proximate the exterior conductive elements through oligodynamic activity. In another embodiment, an oligodynamic dressing is described which incorporates open circuitry which is presented to contact a subject wound.

Abstract: A catheter assembly is described which comprises a catheter tube, an exterior portion of which is circumferentially surrounded by at least two parallel elongated helical conductive elements which may be operably connected to a first power source to create a first open circuit to induce an antimicrobial effect in the area proximate the exterior conductive elements through oligodynamic activity. The catheter assembly further comprises a hub at its proximal end having a cap containing a second power source. At least two internal conductive elements are disposed along the internal length of the hub and are operably connected to the second power source upon closure of the hub with the cap to create a second open circuit which creates an antimicrobial effect proximate the hub through oligodynamic activity.

Abstract: The present invention involves a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a liposome having a therapeutically effective concentration of an aromatic polyene macrolide antibiotic. The aromatic polyene macrolide antibiotic usable in the practice of the present invention is selected from the group consisting of candicidin, hamycin, aurefungin, ascosin, ayfattin, azacolutin, DJ400-B, trichomycin, levorin, heptamycin, candimycin or perimycin. The most preferred aromatic polyene macrolide antibiotic is candicidin. An important aspect of the present invention is a method for treating disseminated fungal infection in an animal comprising administering to an animal such as a human a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a liposome having a therapeutically effective amount of aromatic polyene macrolide antibiotic as described above.