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.