Structural and Microbiological Characterization of Endotracheal Tube Biofilm in Patients at Increased Risk for the Development of Ventilator-associated Pneumonia in the Intensive Care Unit

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains the most frequent healthcare-associated infection (HAI) in the intensive care unit (ICU) and one of the most critical risk factors associated with both significant morbidity as well as mortality. Although VAP treatment relies on early and appropriate antimicrobial therapy, several preventive measures have been described in the literature in order to limit its incidence and clinical impact in the ICU. Among these, preventing biofilm formation on the inner surface of the endotracheal tube appears to hold promise. Yet there is a lack of clinical relevant data documenting a causal relation between biofilm formation and VAP. Designed to overcome this critical limitation, the BIOPAVIR study intends to provide a better structural and microbiological characterization of endotracheal tube biofilm in critically ill patients at increased risk for the development of VAP in ICU during COVID-19 pandemic.