Abstract: Disclosed is an isolated compound having the structure shown in FIG. 2, wherein n is an integer between 3 and 10 (inclusive) and X may be H, OH, alkyl, aryl, amyl, or an amino acid residue (optionally substituted) or a sugar residue (optionally substituted), and wherein R and R1 are hydrophobic hydrocarbon or fatty acid chains (R may be the same as R1 or different), a method of preparing compositions comprising the compound, and a diagnostic method comprising use of the composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is an isolated compound having the structure shown in FIG. 2, wherein n is an integer between 3 and 10 (inclusive) and X may be H, OH, alkyl, aryl, amyl, or an amino acid residue (optionally substituted) or a sugar residue (optionally substituted), and wherein R and R1 are hydrophobic hydrocarbon or fatty acid chains (R may be the same as R1 or different), a method of preparing compositions comprising the compound, and a diagnostic method comprising use of the composition.

Abstract: A catheter or other invasive/implant device (40;52) intended for relatively long term use, of the order of a day or more, in a patient's body is provided with an electric field generator (48;53) to inhibit bacterial attachment and colonization on and adjacent the device/body interface. The generator can involve application to the device of electret material (53) or an electrode (48) in or for connection with an electrical circuit (47,50,51). The field is preferably unidirectionally negative and also continuous and constant, but pulsatile, alternating and other field forms are possible.