PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Elad Lancau AU - Nimrod Adi AU - Michal Pfeffer AU - Roni Shapira TI - <em>In vitro</em> evaluation of the effectiveness of a novel closed suctioning system in biofilm removal from the endotracheal tubes DP - 2014 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - P2488 VI - 44 IP - Suppl 58 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P2488.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P2488.full SO - Eur Respir J2014 Sep 01; 44 AB - IntroductionBiofilm formation in endotracheal tube (ETT) is the major cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Biovo Technologies (Tel Aviv, Israel) developed a novel device (AirwayMedix Closed Suction System).Objectives1. Develop a reproducible system of in vitro biofilm formation and evaluation in ETT by P. aeruginosa 2. Compare the amount of biofilm removal after cleaning with AirwayMedix versus the KIMVENT* device.MethodsOver night cultures of P. aeruginosa PAO1were diluted to 1x107 CfU's/mL in Luria broth medium (LB) in 8 mm diameter closed ETT and incubated horizontally at 370 for 24 h. Planktonic bacteria were removed by washing with three volumes of the ETT tubes and were divided into three groups: biofilm removal with AirwayMedix, KIMVENT* (Kimberly Clark, USA) or control. Quantification of attached bacteria was performed on 4 cm segments from the middle part of the ETT.ResultsThe conditions of in vitro biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa in ETT and its evaluation were achieved. Enumeration of the attached bacteria: control=1X107 CFU/cm2, KIMVENT=4.86x106 CFU/cm2 (p= 0.01), AirwayMedix 1.1X104 CFU/cm2 (p=0.01).ConclusionsThe AirwayMedix system proved to be superior to the KIMVENT system in its ability to remove bacterial biofilms from ETT.