Effectiveness of various processes for cleaning and Disinfection of nebulizers used by patients with cystic fibrosis

MORA D, AIASSA V, CANTERO V, ALBESA I

Otro; 3° Reunión Internacional de Ciencias Farmacéuticas; 2014

Appropriate cleaning and sterilization/disinfection of reusable nebulizers are biosecurity measures to prevent infections of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients associated with respiratory therapy equipment. According to a survey about home disinfection carried out to CF patients, was found that the main microorganism isolated was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the type nebulizers used was jet, the maximum storage time one day, and that there is no single pattern of cleaning and disinfection. Moreover, it is known that N-acetylcysteine (NAC) acts as an antimicrobial agent and destroys biofilms formed by P. aeruginosa. According to survey data, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of NAC and a number of different disinfectants and disinfection and cleaning processes used by patients against P. aeruginosa. To complete this objective was studied the effectiveness by microbiological control of the different disinfectants, disinfection and washing conditions in nebulizer pipettes contaminated with an inoculum standardized of P. aeruginosa by counting the colony forming unities (CFU/ml) in trypticase soy agar before and after cleaning/disinfection. The results obtained indicated that the use of NAC 0.5% by immersion 20 min decreased 7 log the initial inoculum. While ethanol 70° dip 20 and 5 min, the boiling water 5 min, and washing drag by cold running water, liquid soap and brushing were effective eliminating inoculums of 105 CFU/ml. The evaporative drying, with hair dryer or paper towel, did not alter the effectiveness of alcohol 70°. Disinfection of articles with alcohol 70 ° with subsequent drying and wrapping them with paper napkin allowed keep it disinfected for 24 h. Spray with alcohol 70 ° and subsequent evaporation was not an effective approach.These results indicate that home care hygiene and proper disinfection of equipment are useful tools for CF patient to reduce the risk of infection in the lungs and that NAC may be included as an appropriate disinfectant.