Bacterial contamination and transmission by nitrous oxide sedation apparatus.

Microbial contamination of sterile nasal hoods was demonstrated in nine of twenty-one clinical administrations of nitrous oxide-oxygen conscious sedation. In each case, bacteria isolated from the hood after 30 minutes' use were correlated morphologically with organisms recovered from the subject's nasal mucosa. A laboratory investigation utilizing an artificial respiration-sedation system revealed that there is a significant possibility of cross-infection between patients when improperly disinfected sedation equipment is employed.