Microbial biofilm formation on silicone nasal splints: optimal time for splint removal.

OBJECTIVES Biofilms are sessile communities associated with persistent infections and are resistant to conventional therapeutic strategies. They survive on the surface of various inorganic medical devices and cause serious medical problems. METHODS We recruited 25 patients who underwent nasal surgery between January and May 2013. All patients received silicone splints at the conclusion of the procedure. Pieces of the splints were collected 48, 72 and 96 h post-surgery and prepared for scanning electron microscopy evaluation to assess biofilm formation. RESULTS Biofilm was observed in 3, 14 and 25 of the 25 samples at 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively. The differences in the proportions of the samples with biofilm formation at each time point (48, 72, and 96 h) were statistically significant. CONCLUSION Our data demonstrated that biofilm formation on silicone splints increases significantly after 48 h following placement. Although packing may reduce complications, surgeons must consider the potential hazards of packing materials, such as biofilm formation at 48 h post-surgery.