October 10, 2013
AORN Journal, noting concerns about infection risk from
forced-air warmers, called for multi-center, randomized, controlled trials.
Evidence of bacteria in the air-flow paths of forced-air warmers; authors ask
manufacturers to consider redesign.
In a continuing-education review article in the October
issue of AORN Journal, published by the Association of Operating Room
Nurses, the authors examined 192 sources. Their conclusions
included the following:
- “Clinicians should take steps to prevent health care–associated infections from the use of forced-air warmers….” Such steps include “routinely and meticulously” cleaning the devices.
- Forced-air warmers may interrupt the flow of filtered air toward the area of the wound and may allow dust particles containing pathogenic organisms to come into contact with the wound.
- Five separate studies suggested that forced-air warmers could be harboring bacteria or bacteria-containing particles.
Among the research considered by the authors was “Forced-air
warming and ultra-clean ventilation do not mix: an investigation of theatre
ventilation, patient warming and joint replacement infection in orthopaedics,”
by UK
orthopedic surgeon PD McGovern et al and published in the Journal of Bone
& Joint Surgery. The research included 1,437 patients undergoing
hip or knee replacement. The “Finding and comments” of the AORN Journal
authors included:
“High risk of developing deep infections for subjects warmed with forced-air warming systems (odds ratio, 3.8; P=.024).”
“High risk of developing deep infections for subjects warmed with forced-air warming systems (odds ratio, 3.8; P=.024).”
