Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
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Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg · Apr 2004
Electron microscopic analysis of biofilm on endotracheal tubes removed from intubated neonates.
To determine if the phenomenon of biofilm accumulation and associated microbial colonization occurs on the surface of endotracheal tubes in the region of the subglottis in neonates. ⋯ This study demonstrates for the first time the presence of biofilm on the outer surface of neonatal endotracheal tubes. The data suggest that the presence of bacteria and/or biofilm does not correlate with other traditional indicators of microbial colonization.