title: [The characteristics of biofilm formation in endotracheal tubes in ventilated patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the etiology and drug resistance of biofilms in endotracheal tubes in respiratory intensive care unit (RICU).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort study was conducted. The biofilms were observed by scanning electron microscopy at different times of ventilation. The pathogens were identified and their resistance to antibiotics were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty one VAP cases were identified in 39 mechanically ventilated patients (53.85%). Patchy biofilms were observed 2 d to 7 d after the initiation of ventilation. After 7 d to 10 d, 87.5% of the endotracheal tubes were covered by biofilms. Biofilms were identified in all the tubes longer than 10 d.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of VAP increased with prolonged mechanical ventilation. Meanwhile the antibiotic resistance rate increased and more pathogens isolated were consistent with those in the biofilms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hebei Medical University Second Hospital, Shijiazhuang 050000, China. yanxixin@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Xi-Xin
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tian-Jie
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Lu-Tao
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yan-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jian-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D014132:Trachea / Q000382:microbiology*