Bacterial contamination and transmission by nitrous oxide sedation apparatus.
Microbial contamination of sterile nasal hoods was demonstrated in nine of twenty-one clinical administrations of nitrous oxide-oxygen conscious sedation. In each case, bacteria isolated from the hood after 30 minutes' use were correlated morphologically with organisms recovered from the subject's nasal mucosa. A laboratory investigation utilizing an artificial respiration-sedation system revealed that there is a significant possibility of cross-infection between patients when improperly disinfected sedation equipment is employed.
D000328:Adult; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D005145:Face; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D013242:Sterilization
D009609:Nitrous Oxide