Bacterial Contamination Study in Reusing Anesthetic
Breathing Systems
Siriluk Chumnanvej MD1, Nuntarad Kitvorapat MD1, Kalyanad U-yen MD1, Sudaluck Thunyaharn MSc2
Affiliation :
1 Department of Anesthesiology and Operating Room, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
2 Department of Clinical Pathology, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Generally, a heat and moisture exchanger (cid:976)ilter [HMEF] is being single used at the Y-piece of breathing systems.
However, it is common to reuse the corrugated tubes for multiple patients in Thailand. Reusing corrugated tubes among patients
could be a cause of bacterial contamination and cross infection. Therefore, sharing of the corrugated tubes and breathing systems
is a concern amongst clinicians.
Objective : To evaluate the bacterial contamination and nosocomial pneumonia from using corrugated tubes on multiple patients.
Materials and Methods : This experimental observational study was performed with 30 corrugated tubes in each group and consisted
of seven groups of corrugated tubes. Microbiological samples were obtained by swabbing at Y-piece every day. The corrugated
tubes were also washed with normal saline, which was sent for bacterial culture. The corrugated tubes were changed according to
seven different schedules at 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, and 168 hours.
Results : One hundred sixty-eight breathing systems comprising of 891 microbiological samples from both Y-piece and corrugated
tubes were tested for bacterial contamination. The Chi-square test and McNemar’s test revealed no statistical signi(cid:976)icant differences
among those groups in bacterial contamination and transmission of nosocomial pneumonia (p<0.001).
Conclusion : The long-term use and sharing of corrugated tubes during 24 hours with single used of HMEF at the Y-piece of breathing
systems did not increase signi(cid:976)icantly the risk of bacterial contamination and infection. For economical and environmental reasons,
to reuse breathing systems within 24 hours is recommended as the patient safety is not reduced.
Keywords : Bacterial contamination, Heat and moisture exchanger (cid:976)ilter, Corrugated tubes, Reusing
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