THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BACTERIAL BIOFILMS AND INFLAMMATORY TISSUE CHANGES IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC RHINOSINUSITIS

Objectives. The involvement of bacterial biofilms in the pathophysiology of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is intensively debated, despite the acknowledgement of their negative impact on postoperative evolution of the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between bacterial biofilms and inflammatory infiltrate of sinus mucosa, and the influence of comorbidities on biofilm development. Materials and methods. The study comprised 50 CRS patients, treated by endoscopic surgery. For biofilm identification and inflammatory infiltrate evaluation, sinus mucosa samples were taken during surgical intervention and studied by haematoxylin-eosin and toluidine blue staining. Results. Biofilms were present in 34 patients (68%). Among them, 22 patients displayed an abundant inflammatory infiltrate of the sinus mucosa, this association being statistically significant (p < 0.001). Biofilm development was also significantly associated with the following comorbidities: bronchial asthma (p = 0.006) and atopic background (p < 0.001). Conclusions. Bacterial biofilms were significantly associated with an abundant inflammatory infiltrate of the sinus mucosa, demonstrating an intensive local inflammatory response. Among the comorbidities frequently associated with CRS, bronchial asthma and atopic background proved a significant increase in the odds of biofilm development.