title: Safety devices to prevent airborne infection from clinical suction apparatus.
abstract: Infection related to clinical suction apparatus has been widely recognized. Safety systems available at present include devices to prevent overflow from collecting vessels and in-line air filters. The relative efficiency of these devices for the containment of aerosols generated within the collecting vessel has been evaluated. Although of increased resistance, filter capsules of 0.3-micron pore size prevented the passage of test aerosols for longer periods than the widely used 8-micron fibre filter tubes. Filter life can be prolonged by preventing overflow from collecting vessels and protecting against the passage of foam and froth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London.
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Blenkharn
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000009:adverse effects; D000391:Air Microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000592:standards*; D013396:Suction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols