title: Extent and practicalities of filter use in anaesthetic breathing circuits and attitudes towards their use: a postal survey of UK hospitals.
abstract: A postal survey of 120 UK hospitals was conducted to assess the current use of filters in anaesthetic breathing systems and consultant anaesthetists' opinion of their value; 76% of the questionnaires were returned complete. The survey showed that 77.2% of anaesthetic departments use a new filter for every case, a variety of different filter types being used. A connector distal to the filter was used in 78.3% of patients, providing a possible route for cross infection. Anaesthetists rated the prevention of bacterial infection and gross contamination as being higher priorities than the prevention of viral infection. Of those surveyed, 66.3% believed filters were worthwhile whereas only 35.9% thought they were cost effective. Only 34.8% of anaesthetists believed that the supposed extra efficiency of pleated hydrophobic membrane filters over electrostatic filters merited their extra cost.
authors: Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK.
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Atkinson
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Girgis
authors: I J
authors: IJ
authors: Broome
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003253:Consultants / Q000523:psychology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008851:Micropore Filters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011177:Postal Service; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom