[Adhesion of mircroorganisms to respirator tubes].
Potentially pathogenic microorganisms may adhere to and persist on plastic surfaces by extracellular polymeric substances. Intubation tubes used between 30 minutes and 10 days in 14 ventilated patients of a medical intensive care unit were examined by scanning electron microscopy. All interior tube surfaces showed heavy colonisations which thus can persist over prolonged periods. The clinical relevance of these findings consists of the fact that, as on other plastic surfaces, microbial organisms may remain attached to ventilation tubes. Through formation of extracellular polymeric substances they are protected against effects of antibiotics and disinfectants. Aspiration of these microorganisms from the tubes may lead to pneumonias in ventilated patients.
D000268:Adhesiveness; D000391:Air Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical; D015003:Yeasts / Q000648:ultrastructure
Adhäsion von Mikroorganismen an Beatmungstuben.