A catheter for delivering a fluid, comprising: an elongated tube having a lumen , having a closed distal end , at least a distal section of said tube being constructed from a bio-absorbable material; wherein at least a portion of said distal section defines a side wall permitting fluid within said lumen to pass through said portion of said distal section ; a tubular section connected to the distal section , the tubular section having a lumen , wherein the tubular section extends to a junction with the distal section ; and wherein the distal section defines an infusion section of the catheter and extends from the junction to a distal end of the catheter ; wherein the junction is comprised of a distal end of the tubular section and a proximal end of the distal section , such that the two overlap by a distance , wherein a bio-compatible adhesive is applied between the overlapping surfaces of the tubular section and the distal section , to hold the sections together; and wherein the bio-absorbable distal section is dissolvable within a patient's body during a time period, which reduces the strength of the junction to facilitate detachment of the tubular section from the distal section ; and wherein said side wall is porous and said tubular section is non-porous, and said tubular section defines a non-infusing section of the catheter and extends from a fluid supply to the junction ; and wherein said tubular section is inserted into a proximal end of the lumen within the distal section ; characterised in that at least a portion of said distal section incorporates an anti-microbial substance and is configured for the sustained release of said anti-microbial substance into said fluid, wherein the anti-microbial substance comprises silver nanoparticles less than 50nm in size that are both impregnated and coated onto the distal section via submersion in a solution of the nanoparticles. an elongated tube having a lumen , having a closed distal end , at least a distal section of said tube being constructed from a bio-absorbable material; wherein at least a portion of said distal section defines a side wall permitting fluid within said lumen to pass through said portion of said distal section ; a tubular section connected to the distal section , the tubular section having a lumen , wherein the tubular section extends to a junction with the distal section ; and wherein the distal section defines an infusion section of the catheter and extends from the junction to a distal end of the catheter ; wherein the junction is comprised of a distal end of the tubular section and a proximal end of the distal section , such that the two overlap by a distance , wherein a bio-compatible adhesive is applied between the overlapping surfaces of the tubular section and the distal section , to hold the sections together; and wherein the bio-absorbable distal section is dissolvable within a patient's body during a time period, which reduces the strength of the junction to facilitate detachment of the tubular section from the distal section ; and wherein said side wall is porous and said tubular section is non-porous, and said tubular section defines a non-infusing section of the catheter and extends from a fluid supply to the junction ; and wherein said tubular section is inserted into a proximal end of the lumen within the distal section ; characterised in that at least a portion of said distal section incorporates an anti-microbial substance and is configured for the sustained release of said anti-microbial substance into said fluid, wherein the anti-microbial substance comprises silver nanoparticles less than 50nm in size that are both impregnated and coated onto the distal section via submersion in a solution of the nanoparticles. <EOS>