title: Insights on the role of antimicrobial cuffed endotracheal tubes in preventing transtracheal transmission of VAP pathogens from an in vitro model of microaspiration and microbial proliferation.
abstract: We developed an in vitro model to evaluate the effect of different cuffed endotracheal tubes (ETTs) on transtracheal transmission of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) pathogens along external surfaces of ETTs. The model independently assessed the relative contributions of microbial proliferation to the distal tip and microaspiration of contaminated secretions past the cuff by testing in three modes: microaspiration only, microbial proliferation only, and simultaneous microaspiration and microbial proliferation. We evaluated transmission of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) in the presence of a standard ETT; a soft, tapered cuff ETT with subglottic suctioning; and a novel antimicrobial gendine (combination of gentian violet and chlorhexidine) ETT in the model. In the microaspiration only mode, when leakage past the cuff occurred quickly, no ETT prevented transmission. When microaspiration was delayed, the gendine ETT was able to completely disinfect the fluid above the cuff and thereby prevent transmission of pathogens. In microbial proliferation only mode, the gendine ETT was the sole ETT that prevented transmission. With both mechanisms simultaneously available, transmission was dependent on how long microaspiration was delayed. Potent antimicrobial ETTs, such as a gendine ETT, can make unique contributions to prevent VAP when microaspiration is gradual.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, Unit 1460, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4130-7186
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosenblatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, Unit 1460, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reitzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, Unit 1460, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, Unit 1460, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Ray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hachem
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, Unit 1460, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Issam
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Raad
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D013396:Suction
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004396:Coloring Agents