Limited retention of micro-organisms using commercialized needle filters

Summary A study was undertaken to compare a commercialized needle filter with a 0.2-μm filtered epidural set and a non-filtered standard needle. No culturable bacteria were detected following filtration through the 0.2-μm filter. Bacterial breakthrough was observed with the filtered needle (pore siz...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of hospital infection 2015-03, Vol.89 (3), p.218-220
Main Authors: Elbaz, W, McCarthy, G, Mawhinney, T, Goldsmith, C.E, Moore, J.E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteria
Bacteria - isolation & purification
Bacterial contamination
Bacterial retention
Epidural
Filtered needle
Filtration - methods
Infectious Disease
Needles - microbiology
Sterility
Sterilization
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Description
Summary:Summary A study was undertaken to compare a commercialized needle filter with a 0.2-μm filtered epidural set and a non-filtered standard needle. No culturable bacteria were detected following filtration through the 0.2-μm filter. Bacterial breakthrough was observed with the filtered needle (pore size 5 μm) and the non-filtered needle. Filtered systems (0.2 μm) should be employed to achieve total bacterial retention. This highlights that filtration systems with different pore sizes will have varying ability to retain bacteria. Healthcare professionals need to know what type/capability of filter is implied on labels used by manufacturers, and to assess whether the specification has the desired functionality to prevent bacterial translocation through needles.
ISSN:0195-6701
1532-2939
DOI:10.1016/j.jhin.2014.12.010