ASSESSMENT OF BIOFILM FORMATION BY THE CAUSATIVE ORGANISMS OF VENTILATOR ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA AT INTENSIVE CARE UNIT OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Introduction: The endotracheal tube participates in the pathogenesis of ventilator-associated pneumonia by the elimination of natural defense mechanisms, thereby allowing the entry of bacteria by the aspiration of subglottic secretions and ultimately these all will play role in the formation of biofilm on the endotracheal tube. Aims and objectives: Present study was done to assess biofilm formation by bacterial clinical isolates from endotracheal tube of ventilator associated pneumonia patients and to assess drug resistance in association with biofilm. Material and method: All isolates are identified by standard biochemical reaction and antibiotic susceptibility testing was done as per CLSI guidelines. Detection of biofilm is done by using tissue culture plate method. Results: Total 56 isolates are recovered from 42 patients of ventilator associated pneumonia; from it 34 (65.4%) isolates are strongly positive by tissue culture plate method. Most common organisms isolated which producing strong biofilm are Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp. Conclusion: The presence of an endotracheal tube in the airway, although critical for the management of the mechanically ventilated patient, also contributes to the development of ventilator associated pneumonia by disrupting normal protective mechanism which is associated with the intraluminal formation of biofilm by multidrug resistant organisms. [National J of Med Res 2012; 2(1.000): 15-18]