Decontamination of laryngoscopes: a survey of national practice.
We conducted a postal questionnaire to survey methods of laryngoscope cleaning in units throughout Great Britain. We found that there was great variation in practice. Most units autoclave laryngoscope blades at some time, but less than one-quarter do so between each case. A wide range of methods is used to clean the blade in units where autoclaving was not undertaken. Most units had no guidelines relating to laryngoscope treatment between uses.
Department of Anaesthesia, Royal London Hospital, Royal Hospitals Trust, London E1 1BB, UK.
M D
MD
Esler
L C
LC
Baines
D J
DJ
Wilkinson
R M
RM
Langford
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020704:Laryngoscopes; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013242:Sterilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom