title: Prevention of transmission of infection during mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
abstract: The risk of infection transmitted during mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose resuscitation procedures is difficult to define but is possibly quite low. However, the perceived risk is sufficient to cause serious concern for many individuals, including trained hospital personnel as well as the general public, and may preclude prompt and effective action. A novel airway device was evaluated for the retention of infective droplets and fluid permeability under simulated resuscitation conditions using a cardiopulmonary resuscitation training manikin. Retention of a 0.5-5.0 micron aerosol of Staphylococcus aureus cells was greater than 80% at flow rates of 6 l/min while under simulated resuscitation conditions the trapping of bacteria, originating predominantly from saliva, was over 90%. These data suggest that this device may afford significant protection against transmission of infection during exhaled air resuscitation manoeuvres.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, UK.
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Blenkharn
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Buckingham
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Zideman
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000382:microbiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D007239:Infections / Q000635:transmission; D008348:Manikins; D010539:Permeability; D011482:Protective Devices; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology