Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Urinary tract infection poses a serious health threat with respect to antibiotic susceptibility and high recurrence rate. Uropathogenic bacteria may produce biofilm, rendering the bacteria very difficult to eradicate with antibiotics. This study was carried out to compare biofilm formation by Gram-negative organisms in catheterized and noncatheterized patients and also to evaluate their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised fifty consecutive specimens of urine yielding significant colony count of Gram-negative bacteria. Twenty-five specimens were collected from catheterized patients while the rest of the 25 specimens were collected from noncatheterized patients. All the specimens were processed following the standard microbiological guidelines. The isolated organisms were screened for biofilm production by tube method, and antibiotic susceptibility of both biofilm- and nonbiofilm-producing isolates was done by Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. RESULTS: Eighteen (72%) of the 25 organisms isolated from the catheterized patients were found to be biofilm producers, while only 4 (16%) of the rest of the 25 organisms, isolated from the noncatheterized patients were found to produce biofilm. The percentage sensitivity of all the biofilm-producing organisms was found to be lower than the nonbiofilm-producing organisms. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that urinary catheterization is a major environmental factor that facilitates biofilm formation by uropathogenic Gram-negative bacilli. As biofilm-producing organisms are difficult to treat, proper measures should be taken to prevent its formation.

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