gms | German Medical Science

77th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

24.05. - 28.05.2006, Mannheim

Experimental Examination of Cleaning Methods and Reuse of Endotracheal Tubes for Hospital Application

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author presenting/speaker Matthias Leonhard - Universitätsklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten Wien, Vienna, Austria
  • author Ojan Assadian - Klinisches Institut für Hygiene und Medizinische Mikrobiologie Wien, Vienna, Austria
  • author Florian Daxböck - Klinisches Institut für Hygiene und Medizinische Mikrobiologie Wien, Vienna, Austria
  • author Maria Stadler - Klinisches Institut für Hygiene und Medizinische Mikrobiologie Wien, Vienna, Austria
  • author Michaela Zumtobel - Universitätsklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten Wien, Vienna, Austria
  • author Wolfgang Bigenzahn - Universitätsklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten Wien, Vienna, Austria
  • author Berit Schneider - Universitätsklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkrankheiten Wien, Vienna, Austria

German Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. 77th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. Mannheim, 24.-28.05.2006. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2006. Doc06hno031

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/hno2006/06hno031.shtml

Published: September 7, 2006

© 2006 Leonhard et al.
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Outline

Text

Background: Due to the lack of validated guidelines on reprocessing and proper use of endotracheal tubes made of plastics, the theoretically possible reuse of tracheal tubes is not common in clinical practice.

The goal of this study was the examination of selected cleaning methods for intraindividual reuse considering the reduction of microbes, economical aspects and material deterioration.

Methods: Endotracheal tubes of different types and manufacturers were contaminated under controlled conditions with defined suspensions of selected pathogenic germs and reprocessed using the following cleaning methods:

1.
manual cleaning using brushes and rinsing with tap water
2.
combination of manual and chemical cleaning using commercially available disinfectants
3.
automated cleaning using a dishwasher
4.
cleaning using an ultrasound cleaning device without adding chemical cleaners
5.
enzymatic cleaning using a commercially aquired cleaner

Results: Under controlled laboratory conditions the necessary reduction of 103 germs was achieved by all methods tested. However, different reprocessing methods showed differences in reliability, costs, hands-on-time and material deterioration. Manual cleaning could achieve a reliable reduction of microbes only in combination with disinfectants. Ultrasound- and enzymatic cleaning showed sufficient germs reduction in a comparable short period of time. The dishwasher reached a very good and reliable reduction of germs, but with longer processing time and increased stress of material.

Conclusion: In summary, intraindividual reuse of endotracheal tubes made of plastic is possible. The cleaning methods tested in this study differ with regard to costs, expenditure of time, availability, waste management and endangerment of staff. These factor have to be taken into consideration depending on clinical needs.