title: Bacteriology of spirometer tubing and evaluation of methodology to prevent transmission of infection.
abstract: Transmission of respiratory infection by a spirometer is a definite risk in countries like India where a majority of respiratory diseases are infective in nature. To assess this problem, scrapings and washing from a spirometer tube in regular use were taken for microbiological studies. Significant bacterial growth on culture included Aspergillus and acid fast bacilli. In order to check contamination, a segregation chamber was attached to the spirometer. Twenty-three patients used the spirometer with or without segregation chamber and a good correlation was shown between the two methods in forced expiratory volume in one second (r = 0.94), forced vital capacity (r = 0.92) and mid maximum expiratory flow rate (r = 0.90). It can be concluded that a spirometer may have significant growth of pathogenic bacteria and a segregation chamber may be used routinely with the spirometer in order to prevent its contamination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, SMS Medical College, Jaipur.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arya
authors.forename: U S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Mathur
mesh_terms: D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013147:Spirometry