Pattern of anaesthetic equipment contamination and infection prevention in anaesthesia practice at university hospitals.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Infection control is essential in anaesthetic practice for both personnel and equipment used. This study aims to evaluate knowledge of anaesthesiologists about infection control practices and to detect the pattern of anaesthetic devices contamination.

METHODS

Cross-sectional observational study at two university hospitals was done. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 80 anaesthesiologists and 90 nursing staff. Forty-four samples were taken from rigid laryngoscopes (22 pairs from handle and blade) for detection of bacterial or fungal contamination. Same laryngoscopes were tested for occult blood.

RESULTS

The response rate among the physicians was 72% while for nurses 94.4%. The responses were variable reflecting lack of adequate knowledge and unsatisfactory compliance to infection control practices. Tested samples showed no fungal growth. Fourteen (31.8%) samples were negative for bacteriological contamination and 5/44 (11.4%) showed gram-positive bacilli; gram-positive cocci were isolated from 12 samples (27.3%) where and , respectively, shared 18.2% and 9.1% of the total samples. Gram-negative bacilli were isolated from 13 samples (29.5%), of which spp. were most frequent (11.4%). Both and were isolated from 6.8% each. spp. was isolated from 4.5%. Occult blood was found in 45.5% of samples.

CONCLUSION

The current study showed contamination of ready-to-use laryngoscopes in operative theatres and ICUs.