Reusable Areas of Clinically Used Ventilators Carry Low Numbers of Aerobic Bacteria
Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) remains a serious problem for critically ill patients. We swabbed nine reusable areas on 20 clinically-used ventilators from a VA Hospital shortly after they had been removed from patients and identified bacterial isolates. No bacteria were isolated from most of...
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2014-10-01
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doaj-2fe66c489337468594256412e33cab6a2020-11-25T03:15:50ZengSociety for the Improvement of Science (SACSIS)All Results Journals: Biol2172-47842014-10-0154242936Reusable Areas of Clinically Used Ventilators Carry Low Numbers of Aerobic BacteriaElizabeth Anne GonzalezVentilator associated pneumonia (VAP) remains a serious problem for critically ill patients. We swabbed nine reusable areas on 20 clinically-used ventilators from a VA Hospital shortly after they had been removed from patients and identified bacterial isolates. No bacteria were isolated from most of the samples and of the samples that did grow bacteria, the majority of those had fewer than 10 colonies. The bacteria that were isolated were primarily non-pathogenic Gram-positive skin flora. Of the 20 ventilators swabbed, only one cultured bacteria associated with nosocomial infections: methicillin-resistant S.aureus. The most commonly contaminated areas were those most likely to be touched by healthcare professionals: the power button and the screen. The areas in closest proximity to the patients, the inspiratory and expiratory ports were the least often contaminated areas. Overall, very few bacteria were transferred to the reusable areas of the ventilators following clinical use.http://arjournals.com/index.php/Biol/article/view/106ventilatorsreusablecleaningdisinfectingbioburdenventilator associated pneumonia |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Elizabeth Anne Gonzalez |
spellingShingle |
Elizabeth Anne Gonzalez Reusable Areas of Clinically Used Ventilators Carry Low Numbers of Aerobic Bacteria All Results Journals: Biol ventilators reusable cleaning disinfecting bioburden ventilator associated pneumonia |
author_facet |
Elizabeth Anne Gonzalez |
author_sort |
Elizabeth Anne Gonzalez |
title |
Reusable Areas of Clinically Used Ventilators Carry Low Numbers of Aerobic Bacteria |
title_short |
Reusable Areas of Clinically Used Ventilators Carry Low Numbers of Aerobic Bacteria |
title_full |
Reusable Areas of Clinically Used Ventilators Carry Low Numbers of Aerobic Bacteria |
title_fullStr |
Reusable Areas of Clinically Used Ventilators Carry Low Numbers of Aerobic Bacteria |
title_full_unstemmed |
Reusable Areas of Clinically Used Ventilators Carry Low Numbers of Aerobic Bacteria |
title_sort |
reusable areas of clinically used ventilators carry low numbers of aerobic bacteria |
publisher |
Society for the Improvement of Science (SACSIS) |
series |
All Results Journals: Biol |
issn |
2172-4784 |
publishDate |
2014-10-01 |
description |
Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) remains a serious problem for critically ill patients. We swabbed nine reusable areas on 20 clinically-used ventilators from a VA Hospital shortly after they had been removed from patients and identified bacterial isolates. No bacteria were isolated from most of the samples and of the samples that did grow bacteria, the majority of those had fewer than 10 colonies. The bacteria that were isolated were primarily non-pathogenic Gram-positive skin flora. Of the 20 ventilators swabbed, only one cultured bacteria associated with nosocomial infections: methicillin-resistant S.aureus. The most commonly contaminated areas were those most likely to be touched by healthcare professionals: the power button and the screen. The areas in closest proximity to the patients, the inspiratory and expiratory ports were the least often contaminated areas. Overall, very few bacteria were transferred to the reusable areas of the ventilators following clinical use. |
topic |
ventilators reusable cleaning disinfecting bioburden ventilator associated pneumonia |
url |
http://arjournals.com/index.php/Biol/article/view/106 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT elizabethannegonzalez reusableareasofclinicallyusedventilatorscarrylownumbersofaerobicbacteria |
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