Multiple-use atomizers in outpatient otolaryngology clinics are not necessarily an infectious risk.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the risk of bacterial transmission from multiple-use atomizers in an outpatient otolaryngology clinic.


METHODS
Atomizers in 6 examination rooms were analyzed for bacterial contamination. Sterility of associated tubing from 1 atomizer was assessed. Multidose drug solutions in the atomizers (phenylephrine and tetracaine) were cultured multiple times over a 2-week period. Serial dilutions of the original sample were cultured to minimize inhibitory effects of antiseptic agents in the drug formulations.


RESULTS
No bacteria were recovered from tubing cultures. Only 2 (0.6%) of 336 cultures of the drug solutions yielded bacterial growth. In both cases, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was recovered in 1 of the dilutions prepared from original samplings.


CONCLUSIONS
Multiple-use atomizers that contain phenylephrine and tetracaine solutions with bacteriostatic preservatives in an outpatient otolaryngology clinic do not yield significant bacterial growth and, when used as described, do not pose an infectious risk of bacterial transmission between patients.
Visosky
Ann Marie B
AM
University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, USA.
Murr
Andrew H
AH
Ng
Valerie
V
Dentoni
Theresa
T
Weir
Lucy
L
Haller
Barbara L
BL
D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D017743:Equipment Reuse; D006801:Humans; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D012307:Risk Factors