Microbiological analysis of oral biofilms in patients admitted to intensive care unit: Pilot study

Abstract

Aim To identify Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in oral biofilms of intubated and non‐intubated patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Methods This was a cross‐sectional study, with 30 biofilm sites sampled. S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were identified by conventional biochemical assays. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested by disk‐diffusion. Results Of 30 sites, 50% contained P. aeruginosa and 3.33% S. aureus. P. aeruginosa was detected in similar amounts in all 3 sample sites, with 5 colonized sites (50%). S. aureus colonized a single supragingival site (3.33%). There was resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents of P. aeruginosa in 7 sites (100%) and S. aureus in 1 (100%). Conclusions This study revealed an important relationship between P. aeruginosa and S. aureus colonization at supragingival, subgingival and lingual sites and intubation, thus revealing antimicrobial resistant bacteria colonization of medical interest, which may contribute to the therapy choice directed to these microorganisms.