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Biofilm accumulation on endotracheal tubes following prolonged intubation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 November 2011

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

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.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2011

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