A Critical Look at Chemical Disinfection of Anaesthetic Apparatus

Abstract

Studies were carried out to test the efficacy of disinfection of a previously contaminated corrugated anaesthetic tube and reservoir bag. Bacteriological swabs and sampling with broth were evaluated as methods of detecting contamination. Gross contamination was detected by broth sampling on occasions when swabbing failed to reveal contamination. The presence of up to 18% by volume of residual air within the apparatus was detected. A method of ensuring elimination of all air is described and studies showed that disinfection was then complete.

Antimicrobial Activity, Uses and Mechanism of Action of Glutaraldehyde

“…Rittenbury & Hench (1965) were among the first workers to recommend glutaraldehyde for cold sterilization of haemostats, cytoscopes, food containers and anaesthetic equipment. These recommendations were further confirmed by Ross (1966), Haselhuhn et al (1967), George (1975) and Lin et al (1979). Glutaraldehyde was also shown to be completely satisfactory for routine sterilization of urological instruments and endoscopes (Lane et al 1966;O'Brien et al 1966;Mitchell & Alder 1975).…”

Bacterial Contamination of Anaesthetic Gases

“…Thus, the dishwasher method introduced for anaesthetic equipment (Barrow and Meynell, 1966) appears to be acceptable. Furthermore, it saves space, time and money, does not require previous manual washing for the removal of hardened blood and expectorate, and does not entail the disadvantages of autoclaving (Stark, Green and Pask, 1962;Bennett, Cope and Thompson, 1968) or sterilization by ethylene oxide or other disinfectants (Hirose, Goldstein and Dailey, 1963;Marx, 1969;Lipton et al, 1971;Varpella, Otterstrom and Hackman, 1971;Craig et al, 1975;George, 1975;Stetson, Withbourne and Eastman, 1976).…”

An investigation of the bacterial contamination of small animal breathing systems during routine use

“…In part 1 and part 2 of the study, the growth of bacteria isolated from anaesthesia apparatus was minimal. Swab collection, as described in previous protocols (Du Moulin & Saubermann 1977;Bengtson et al 1989;Rathgeber et al 1997) is considered to be less sensitive than a broth extraction technique (George 1975). In the latter, a nutrient broth is poured into the tubing, collected and directly cultured.…”

“…Sterilization is desirable for anaesthetic systems, but not easily possible; decontamination and highlevel disinfection is acceptable (Dorsch & Dorsch 1998). Efficient disinfection of anaesthesia circuitry is difficult and time consuming because of the air trapped in the corrugations (George 1975;Murphy et al 1991). The use of disposable breathing systems or specific bacterial filters for every patient has therefore been recommended (Knoblanche 1996).…”