Cleaning of anaesthesia breathing circuits and tubings: a Canadian survey.

A cross-Canada survey of 38 university-affiliated hospitals with over 250 beds was undertaken to examine the procedures for cleaning anaesthetic tubings and circuits. Twenty-eight (74 per cent) hospitals responded. Gluteraldehyde was the most commonly used method (13/28), and pasteurization was the second most used method (9/28). These two methods are described and recommendations are made for basic requirements for disinfection.