Passage of pathogenic microorganisms through breathing system filters used in anaesthesia and intensive care

Summary Invasive ventilation poses a risk of respiratory infection that can be drug‐resistant. One means of reducing transmission of infection is the use of a breathing system filter. Filters are intended to be used with dry gas. Current international standards do not require that filters prevent ba...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Anaesthesia 2010-07, Vol.65 (7), p.670-673
Main Authors: Scott, D. H. T., Fraser, S., Willson, P., Drummond, G. B., Baillie, J. K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agar
Anesthesia
Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy
Anesthesiology - instrumentation
Biological and medical sciences
Blood
Candida albicans
Candida albicans - isolation & purification
Critical Care
Cross Infection - prevention & control
Cross Infection - transmission
Drug resistance
Equipment Contamination - prevention & control
Filters
Filtration - instrumentation
Filtration - standards
Fluid flow
Humans
Humidity
Infection
International standards
Materials Testing - methods
Medical sciences
Microorganisms
Pathogenesis
Pressure
Respiration
Respiration, Artificial - instrumentation
Respiratory Tract Infections - prevention & control
Respiratory Tract Infections - transmission
Staphylococcus - isolation & purification
Ventilation
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Summary:Summary Invasive ventilation poses a risk of respiratory infection that can be drug‐resistant. One means of reducing transmission of infection is the use of a breathing system filter. Filters are intended to be used with dry gas. Current international standards do not require that filters prevent bacterial transfer when wet. It is not known whether microorganisms pass through wet filters, but theory predicts that this might occur. We tested six filters from three different manufacturers. We passed a suspension of microorganisms through the filters using the least pressure necessary, and incubated a sample of the filtrate on blood agar. All the filters tested allowed free passage of both Candida albicans and coagulase‐negative staphylococci. The median (IQR [range]) pressure required for fluid to flow across the filter varied greatly between different filter types (20 (0–48 [0–138]) cmH2O). We conclude that even large microorganisms pass across moist breathing system filters in conditions that are found in clinical practice.
ISSN:0003-2409
1365-2044
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2044.2010.06327.x