Disinfecting the surfaces of ventilators

The risk of spreading disease through the proliferation of pathogens is a real concern in the hospital setting. The current narrative in infection control focuses in hand washing as a primary and first line of defense in preventing the transmission and spread of pathogens. But should health personnel focus only on hand washing as a tool to combat the spread of pathogens? In the ICU ventilators are common. While these devices are crucial in sustaining life, they are also possible sources of life threatening diseases. An interesting study by researchers in Taiwan suggest that frequently disinfecting the surfaces of ventilators with 75% alcohol could significantly reduce the spread of pathogens.

As nurses, we are acutely aware of the possibility of our patients contracting bloodstream infections and ventilator associated pneumonia. Microorganism such as E-coli, C-diff, and Stpahylococcus aureus grow and proliferate on environment surfaces. In the study the authors assessed the effectiveness of using 75% alcohol and found out that this particular solution is quite effective in combating the offending microorganism. However, the study also postulated that without proper hand hygiene the effectiveness of the disinfectant was compromised. One suggestion that the authors made was to use sterile gauze to wipe 75% alcohol on ventilator surfaces.

Reference:

http://web.a.ebscohost.com.summit.csuci.edu:2048/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=cbe5062b-d583-423c-bcaf-747e1afdd9ab%40sessionmgr4001&vid=0&hid=4101