Biofilms in ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Biofilms develop rapidly following endotracheal intubation and represent a persistent source of unnecessary pathogens in the critically ill patient. Overall, the imbalance in the lung microbiome caused by an endotracheal tube and its role in biofilm formation and in ventilator-associated pneumonia is still unclear. Although endotracheal tube-biofilm preventive measures are being tested, no outcome impact has ever been demonstrated, and therefore no approach has been clinically recommended. Nonetheless, an accurate description of the actual biofilm morphology in vivo could be useful to implement effective preventive measures. The combined use of in vitro biofilm models, in vivo animal models and clinical research is vitally important to the attainment of a comprehensive understanding of biofilms in ventilator-associated pneumonia in the near future.
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (Ciberes), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universtitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
Laia
L
Fernández-Barat
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (Ciberes), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universtitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.|Unidad de cuidados Intensivos respiratorios (UVIR), Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain.
Antoni
A
Torres
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D018441:Biofilms; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006801:Humans; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000382:microbiology*; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical / Q000382:microbiology*
biofilm; endotracheal tube; nosocomial infections; pneumonia; ventilator-associated pneumonia