title: Contamination of small-volume medication nebulizers and its association with oropharyngeal colonization.
abstract: The effect of the use of small-volume medication nebulizers on oropharyngeal colonization with potentially pathogenic Gram-negative bacilli was investigated in 95 patients with respiratory disease, of whom 54 used nebulizers and 41 were controls. Inhalation therapy had a significant effect on colonization, with a relative risk of more than four. Age over 60 years also showed a significant association with colonization. One-third of the nebulizers sampled were contaminated, 71% with Gram-negative bacilli. A direct route of contamination could be demonstrated in 28% of the patients. Medication nebulizers should be thoroughly cleaned after use and stored dry between patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D012138:Respiratory Therapy