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Heat-and-Moisture Exchangers Used With Biweekly Circuit Tubing Changes: Effect on Costs and Pneumonia Rates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Charles Salemi ,
Sally Padilla ,
Teresa Canola  and
David Reynolds
Charles Salemi*
Affiliation:
Departments of Internal Medicine and Respiratory Therapy, Kaiser Permanente Southern California Medical Group, Fontana, California Department of Infection Control, Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Fontana, California
Sally Padilla
Affiliation:
Departments of Internal Medicine and Respiratory Therapy, Kaiser Permanente Southern California Medical Group, Fontana, California Department of Infection Control, Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Fontana, California
Teresa Canola
Affiliation:
Departments of Internal Medicine and Respiratory Therapy, Kaiser Permanente Southern California Medical Group, Fontana, California Department of Infection Control, Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Fontana, California
David Reynolds
Affiliation:
Departments of Internal Medicine and Respiratory Therapy, Kaiser Permanente Southern California Medical Group, Fontana, California Department of Infection Control, Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Fontana, California
*
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, 9961 Sierra Ave, Fontana, CA 92335
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Abstract

In 1991, heat-and-moisture exchangers were introduced with biweekly ventilator circuit tubing changes, resulting in elimination of multiple pieces of respiratory equipment and reduced labor costs. The annual savings were $157,000, totalling $1.5 million since the onset of the program. There have been no increases in rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Type
Concise Communications
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 21 , Issue 11 , November 2000 , pp. 737 - 739
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2000

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