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Sounds like there needs to be a policy on this, I have looked but can’t
find a policy in regard to inhalers. There are disposable inhalers and
the hard plastic inhalers as far as I can see state single patient use.
There is no barrier to protect an inhaler to stop cross transmission.
Best practice would have to be single patient use for all inhalers and
spacers, there is too much risk involved otherwise.
Melissa McEwan
Nurse Coordinator KAPC
Contractor to Defence
Wagga Wagga
02 69338413
melissa.mcewan@defence.gov.au
________________________________
Behalf Of Che Jarvis
Hi Meryl,
I agree with Michael, & Julie on the potential risk for transmission of
droplet based organisms.
Our HCF only utilises inhalers as single patient use, & even our spacers
are for single patient use & are purchased by the patient’s/parents.
Regards,
Che Jarvis
Acting CNC Infection Control| Nepean Hospital
Level 2, South Block
Tel 02 4734 2228 | Fax | Mob | che.jarvis@health.nsw.gov.au
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au
________________________________
Julie Hunt [Julie.Hunt1@HEALTH.NSW.GOV.AU]
Hi Meryl,
I agree with Michael regarding potential risks of droplet contamination
of respiratory viruses within the inhaler if used between patients.
In our HCF the inhalers we use are labelled as single patient use so
they are only approved for more than one episode of use on one patient
only. We do not reuse these items for different patients. They are
cleaned with a neutral detergent when required although we do ask that
staff check the manufacturer’s instructions as some are not designed to
be cleaned or dismantled & have a life expectancy similar to a puffer.
Regards
Julie Hunt
Clinical Nurse Consultant
Infection Prevention & Control
Royal North Shore Hospital
Reserve Rd St Leonards 2065
Tel 02 99264339 or 99264490
Behalf Of Meryl Jones
Good morning everyone,
I have been approached our ED to find out the risks of cross-infection
through use of an inhaler with a spacer. To put this into context, the
use of spacers is restricted to individual patients, but the inhalers
are currently used for multiple patients. My concerns are as follows:
* Children in ED are usually undifferentiated as and such we do
not know what infection they have or what kind of additional
transmission-based precautions might be required.
* The valve in the spacer is a valve not a filter thus there is
the possibility of contamination of the inhaler through the valve of the
spacer.
* The inhaler sits at the patient’s bedside before moving to the
medication room and then on to another patient’s room, being handled by
children, parents and nursing staff along the way.
Thus far I have not been able to find any literature on this but was
wondering if anyone could inform me what their local practice is and the
rationale behind it.
Many thanks in advance,
Meryl
Meryl Jones
Clinical Nurse
Infection Management and Prevention Service
Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
Level 12
Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, South Brisbane QLD 4101
T: 07 3068 4145.
E: meryl.jones@health.qld.gov.au
W: http://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au
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