Kim Tae Jong, Kim Kyung Soo, Min Hyun Jin
HAPPY PAP, Hwaseong, Republic of Korea.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
J Rhinol. 2025 Jul;32(2):99-103. doi: 10.18787/jr.2025.00027. Epub 2025 Jul 22.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent disorder that is commonly managed with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. Although CPAP is clinically effective, issues related to device hygiene and contamination remain understudied. This study aims to present a practical protocol for CPAP disassembly and cleaning and to report the outcomes of its implementation over a 2-year period.
We conducted a retrospective chart review of 359 OSA patients prescribed CPAP therapy between 2018 and 2025. Of these, 136 patients participated in a complimentary, comprehensive CPAP cleaning service. Contamination was assessed using a subjective visual analog scale (VAS) following photographic documentation of each device component. The relationship between contamination scores and device usage duration was analyzed.
Patients who received the cleaning service did not differ significantly from the overall cohort in terms of age, sex, apnea-hypopnea index, or average daily usage time, except that they had a significantly shorter total duration of usage. Contamination was found on all device components, including internal parts that are not routinely inspected. Positive correlations between contamination levels and usage duration were statistically significant for every component. The cleaning process required approximately 2 days per device and was feasible for routine clinical implementation.
CPAP devices accumulate visible contamination over time, emphasizing the need for standardized cleaning protocols. Our experience indicates that physician-led education, patient cooperation, and dedicated involvement of paramedical staff are essential in reducing contamination risks. Interdisciplinary collaboration is recommended to develop evidence-based guidelines for CPAP hygiene management.
阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停（OSA）是一种常见疾病，通常采用持续气道正压通气（CPAP）治疗。尽管CPAP在临床上有效，但与设备卫生和污染相关的问题仍未得到充分研究。本研究旨在提出一种CPAP拆卸和清洁的实用方案，并报告其在两年期间的实施结果。
我们对2018年至2025年间接受CPAP治疗的359例OSA患者进行了回顾性病历审查。其中，136例患者参加了免费的全面CPAP清洁服务。在对每个设备部件进行拍照记录后，使用主观视觉模拟量表（VAS）评估污染情况。分析污染评分与设备使用时长之间的关系。
接受清洁服务的患者在年龄、性别、呼吸暂停低通气指数或平均每日使用时间方面与总体队列没有显著差异，只是他们的总使用时长明显较短。在所有设备部件上均发现了污染，包括通常不进行检查的内部部件。每个部件的污染水平与使用时长之间的正相关在统计学上均具有显著性。清洁过程每个设备大约需要2天，对于常规临床实施是可行的。
随着时间的推移，CPAP设备会积累可见污染，这凸显了制定标准化清洁方案的必要性。我们的经验表明，医生主导的教育、患者的合作以及医护人员的积极参与对于降低污染风险至关重要。建议开展跨学科合作，制定基于证据的CPAP卫生管理指南。
