An assessment for the presence of bacterial contamination of Venturi principle atomizers in a clinical setting.

BACKGROUND

Venturi principle atomizers have been criticized for potential contamination and disease transmission when used for nasal application. A recent laboratory study reported a high rate of contamination of these atomizers after their tips were immersed and sprayed into a broth containing Staphylococcus aureus. The objective of this study was to determine whether the Venturi-type atomizers used regularly at a busy referral center for sinonasal disorders were contaminated with bacteria.

METHODS

Fifteen Venturi-type atomizers containing 2% lidocaine (four bottles), 4% lidocaine (three bottles), or 0.05% oxymetazoline (eight bottles) were sprayed onto blood agar plates. All atomizer bottles had been in routine use in a tertiary rhinology clinic for 1 month. The contents within each bottle's reservoir also were cultured. Thus, the total sample size was 30 plates. Then, the plates were incubated at 35 degrees C for 48 hours and then at room temperature for 72 hours.

RESULTS

Three of our 30 plates grew one colony each of Gram-positive bacilli, Gram-positive cocci, and Staphylococcus species.

CONCLUSION

The rare growth of any bacteria seen in our samples could as likely represent contamination during processing and handling of the plates as contamination of the atomizers themselves. Thus, Venturi-type atomizers may not have a high potential contamination risk, which has been suggested by previous reports.