Visualizing biofilm formation in endotracheal tubes using endoscopic three-dimensional optical coherence tomography

J Biomed Opt. 2015;20(12):126010. doi: 10.1117/1.JBO.20.12.126010.

Abstract

Biofilm formation has been linked to ventilator-associated pneumonia, which is a prevalent infection in hospital intensive care units. Currently, there is no rapid diagnostic tool to assess the degree of biofilm formation or cellular biofilm composition. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a minimally invasive, nonionizing imaging modality that can be used to provide high-resolution cross-sectional images. Biofilm deposited in critical care patients’ endotracheal tubes was analyzed in vitro. This study demonstrates that OCT could potentially be used as a diagnostic tool to analyze and assess the degree of biofilm formation and extent of airway obstruction caused by biofilm in endotracheal tubes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Artifacts
  • Biofilms*
  • Critical Care
  • Cross Infection / diagnosis
  • Endoscopy / methods*
  • Equipment Contamination*
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Interferometry / methods
  • Intubation, Intratracheal / adverse effects*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Phenotype
  • Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / diagnosis
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods*