Micromorphological observation of bacterial biofilms on ciliated epithelia of chronic rhinosinusitis / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the micromorphological characteristic of bacterial biofilm on mucosa of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).@*METHOD@#Mucosa samples of middle turbinate were obtained from 4 patients of CRS during ESS. The size of each sample was about 4 mm x 4 mm. The samples were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for 24 hours, then fixed in 1% osmium tetroxide for 2 hours, graded dehydration with ethanol, dried with carbon dioxide and sputter coated with gold. The ultrastructure of these samples was observed by scanning electron microscope.@*RESULT@#Bacterial biofilms were found on samples in all 4 patients. The biofilms were mainly formed on the surface of cilia. The bacterial flagella and cilia were intertwined. The biofilms could be found in a lot kinds of bacterial infections or mixed infections which were caused by multiple bacteria and fungi.@*CONCLUSION@#Bacterial biofilm could be formed on ciliated epithelia.