Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Biofilms on indwelling vascular catheters.

L Passerini1, K Lam, J W Costerton

  • 1Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

Critical Care Medicine
|May 1, 1992
PubMed
Summary

Bacterial biofilms readily colonize vascular catheters in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. These biofilms form quickly, even on catheters in place for just one day, raising concerns for infection risk.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Diverse biological processes coordinate the transcriptional response to nutritional changes in a Drosophila melanogaster multiparent population.

BMC genomics·2020
Same author

Electron microscopic examination of the extracellular polymeric substances in anaerobic granular biofilms.

World journal of microbiology & biotechnology·2014
Same author

Review: Microbial colonization of prosthetic devices.

Microbial ecology·2013
Same author

Evaluation of a nonthermal plasma needle to eliminate ex vivo biofilms in root canals of extracted human teeth.

International endodontic journal·2013
Same author

The polymicrobial nature of biofilm infection.

Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·2012
Same author

Bacterial biofilms and catheters: A key to understanding bacterial strategies in catheter-associated urinary tract infection.

The Canadian journal of infectious diseases = Journal canadien des maladies infectieuses·2012

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Biomaterials Science

Background:

  • Bacteria readily form biofilms on medical devices, posing infection risks.
  • Biofilms are commonly found on various indwelling catheters.
  • Understanding biofilm formation on vascular catheters is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of bacterial biofilms on arterial and central venous catheters in ICU patients.
  • To correlate biofilm presence with patient infection data and microbial cultures.

Main Methods:

  • Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for direct biofilm visualization.
  • Scraping/sonication technique for bacterial recovery from catheter surfaces.
  • Comparison with skin entry site swabs and blood cultures.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Extensive biofilm formation observed on 81% of examined vascular catheters (arterial and central venous).
  • Biofilms were present on catheters within 1 day of insertion.
  • Bacterial cultures from biofilms yielded predominantly skin bacteria, with no strong correlation to blood cultures or entry site swabs.

Conclusions:

  • Most vascular catheters in ICU patients harbor bacterial biofilms.
  • Biofilm presence on catheters is common and can be confirmed by microscopy and culture.
  • Bacterial biofilms on catheters are a potential source of infection and bacteremia, particularly in vulnerable patients.