Changing ventilator tubing circuits every seven days versus every 72 hours: proposed practice based on literature review.

The changing of ventilator circuitry is a costly, time-consuming exercise. The current practise of changing circuits every 72 hours is not supported by research and is therefore being challenged. This literature review supports a change in practice from changing circuits every 72 hours to every 7 days or between patients, whichever occurs first. Previous research studying the time interval between circuit changes is reviewed. Contributing factors such as the contamination of tubing by various means are discussed and finally research-based proposals for future practice will be made.