Korean J Anesthesiol.  1971 Jan;4(1):75-81.

A Study of Cross-infection with Anesthetic Machines

• Koh CM
• Choi DK
• Kim GR
• Kim WS

Abstract

One of the important anesthetic problems is cross-infection in anesthetic machines in operating rooms. This study is an attempt to determine the transfer of organisms through anesthetic apparatus. The bacteriological experiments were based on selective culture with blood agar media(Difco, U.S.A.) in the operating theater, recovery room and in anesthetic apparatus which was either sterilized with chemicals or without sterilization. Furthermore, nasopharyngeal culture also determined in normal healthy patients. The hypersensitivity test was performed by Kolmer's method. The results are as follows; 1) Most of the organisms in the operating room were Staphylococcus and Baeillus subtilis, (table 1.) 2) Bacteriological examination of unsterilized anesthetic acessories showed Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Gram negative bacillus. (table 2) The sterilizaiton of anesthetic apparatus with Benzalkonium chloride solution for 40 minutes was superior to that with our standard Sterilized solution for one and half hours. (table 3.) 3) The majority of colonies responded to Albamycine, Erythromycine, Kanamycine and Achromycine. (table4, 4-a.) 4) Strep.nonhemolyticus (37.0%) was the most common bacterial flora of the nasopharynx isolated from healthy persons. (table 5.) In conclusion, it is most important to check the bacteriological examination of operating roon s and anesthetic apparatus at regular intervals and to clean hands before and after anesthesia.

MeSH Terms

Agar
Anesthesia
Bacillus
Benzalkonium Compounds
Erythromycin
Hand
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Kanamycin
Nasopharynx
Operating Rooms
Recovery Room
Staphylococcus
Sterilization
Streptococcus
Tetracycline
Agar
Benzalkonium Compounds
Erythromycin
Kanamycin
Tetracycline