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Evaluating the Sterility of Disposable Wall Oxygen Humidifiers, During and Between Use on Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

W.H. Seto ,
T.Y. Ching ,
K.Y. Yuen  and
W.K. Lam
W.H. Seto*
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
T.Y. Ching
Affiliation:
University of Hong Kong and Infection Control Unit, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
K.Y. Yuen
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
W.K. Lam
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
*
Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
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Extract

Oxygen wall humidifiers are used regularly in the hospital. Although the humidifiers in mechanical ventilators have been extensively investigated, oxygen wall humidifiers are often neglected in the literature. Both reusable and disposable humidifiers are available, and according to the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), both types of humidifiers are acceptable. For reusable humidifiers however, it is crucial that they be washed daily as recommended and that water left in the reservoir be discarded before refilling.

In the CDC guideline for the prevention of nosocomial pneumonia, it is stated that disposable humidifiers for wall oxygen outlets “may be safe for long periods.” However, studies that actually assess the efficacy of these humidifiers on patients are rarely reported, and, to the best of our knowledge, only one such study has been published.

Type
Product Commentary
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 11 , Issue 11 , November 1990 , pp. 604 - 605
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1990

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References

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