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Biofilm accumulation on endotracheal tubes following prolonged intubation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 November 2011

J M Lee ,
N Hashmi ,
J D Bloom ,
E Tamashiro ,
L Doghramji ,
B Sarani ,
J N Palmer ,
N A Cohen  and
N Mirza
J M Lee*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
N Hashmi
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
J D Bloom
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
E Tamashiro
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
L Doghramji
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
B Sarani
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
J N Palmer
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
N A Cohen
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
N Mirza
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
*
Address for correspondence: Dr J M Lee, 3400 Spruce St, Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA Fax: +1 215 662 4182 E-mail: jonathan.mlee@uphs.upenn.edu
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Abstract

Objective:

To demonstrate that patients who have been intubated for prolonged periods of time will have an increased likelihood of developing bacterial biofilm on their endotracheal tubes.

Methods:

We collected endotracheal tubes from patients at the time of extubation, and analysed representative sections with scanning electron microscopy for morphologic evidence of biofilms.

Results:

From September 2007 to September 2008, 32 endotracheal tubes were analysed with electron microscopy. Patients who had been intubated for 6 days or longer had a significantly higher percentage of endotracheal tubes that exhibited bacterial biofilms, compared with patients intubated for less than 6 days (88.9 versus 57.1 per cent, p = 0.0439).

Conclusions:

Longer duration of intubation is associated with a higher incidence of bacterial biofilm. Further research is needed to link the presence of bacterial biofilms to acquired laryngotracheal damage.

Keywords

Intubation, EndotrachealBiofilmsTracheal StenosisMicroscopy, ElectronTracheostomy
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 126 , Issue 3 , March 2012 , pp. 267 - 270
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2011

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