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Prolonged and Multipatient Use of Prefilled Disposable Oxygen Humidifier Bottles: Safety and Cost

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Elizabeth Henderson ,
Donna Ledgerwood ,
Karen Myrthu Hope ,
Karen Hume ,
Walter Krulicki ,
Gordon Ford ,
Sandy Golar ,
Linda Sutherland  and
Thomas J. Louie
Elizabeth Henderson*
Affiliation:
Infection Control, Calgary General Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Donna Ledgerwood
Affiliation:
Infection Control, Calgary General Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Karen Myrthu Hope
Affiliation:
Infection Control, Calgary General Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Karen Hume
Affiliation:
Infection Control, Calgary General Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Walter Krulicki
Affiliation:
Infection Control, Calgary General Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Gordon Ford
Affiliation:
Respiratory Care, Calgary General Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Sandy Golar
Affiliation:
Respiratory Care, Calgary General Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Linda Sutherland
Affiliation:
Respiratory Care, Calgary General Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Thomas J. Louie
Affiliation:
Infection Control, Calgary General Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Departments of Community Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
*
Epidemiologist, Office of Infection Control, Calgary General Hospital, 841 Centre Avenue, East Calgary Alberta, Canada T2E 0A1
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Abstract

Objective:

Multipatient use and prolonged use of prefilled disposable oxygen humidifier bottles (Aquapak 301, Respiratory Care, Inc., Arlington Heights, IL) were evaluated by performing microbiologic monitoring and a cost analysis on bottles used for varying numbers of patients and lengths of time.

Methods:

Humidifiers were hung for a maximum of one month. Monitoring was conducted in 6 different nursing areas. Quantitative cultures were done for aerobes and Legionella. Reusable humidifier bottles also were monitored.

Results:

Cultures were obtained from 1,311 disposable and 60 reusable humidifiers. No significant bacterial contamination was detected in the prefilled disposable oxygen humidifier units. Ten percent of the reusable bottles were contaminated by organisms associated with skin flora.

Conclusions:

Multipatient use and increased duration of use of disposable humidifiers result in cost savings without increasing patient risk. Restricted multipatient use of prefilled disposable oxygen humidifier bottles for a period of one month is a safe and cost-efficient practice.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 14 , Issue 8 , August 1993 , pp. 463 - 468
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1993

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