title: Measuring the filtration performance of breathing system filters using sodium chloride particles.
abstract: The filtration performance of 33 breathing system filters (nine pleated hydrophobic and 24 electrostatic filters) was measured using sodium chloride particles. The particles had a size distribution with a count median diameter of 0.07 microm and a geometric standard deviation not exceeding 1.83. The geometric mean penetration values ranged from 0.002 to 0.67% for the nine pleated hydrophobic filters and from 0.25 to 35% for the 24 electrostatic filters (p < 0.0001 for the difference between the two filter types). The filtration performance obtained when filters are challenged with either sodium chloride particles or microbes is compared and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN. wilkes@cf.ac.uk
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Wilkes
mesh_terms: D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards; D008851:Micropore Filters / Q000592:standards; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012965:Sodium Chloride
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride