Heat-and-moisture exchangers used with biweekly circuit tubing changes: effect on costs and pneumonia rates.
In 1991, heat-and-moisture exchangers were introduced with biweekly ventilator circuit tubing changes, resulting in elimination of multiple pieces of respiratory equipment and reduced labor costs. The annual savings were $157,000, totalling $1.5 million since the onset of the program. There have been no increases in rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Salemi
C
C
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Southern California Medical Group, Fontana, USA.
Padilla
S
S
Canola
T
T
Reynolds
D
D
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical / Q000009:adverse effects*