Disinfection of flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopes after in vitro contamination with Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans.

Dennis Chang, Andrew Florea, Mark Rowe, Kristin A Seiberling

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Loma Linda University, 11234 Anderson St., Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.

Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery 2012 Feb

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To determine the efficacy of various cleaning and disinfective methods in reducing bacterial and fungal load on flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopes (FFLs). In vitro model. Flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopes contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Contamination with S aureus and C albicans was separately induced on FFLs, which were then disinfected with different protocols: 20-, 15-, 10-, and 5-minute soaks in ortho-phthalaldehyde (Cidex OPA; Johnson & Johnson) with or without presoaking in an enzymatic soap solution for 5 minutes; an isolated 5-minute soak in an enzymatic soap solution; a 30-second wipe with antibacterial soap and water; a 30-second wipe with isopropyl alcohol; a 30-second wipe with antibacterial soap, followed by a 30-second scrub with isopropyl alcohol; and a 30-second wipe with germicidal cloth, all accompanied by previous rinsing with 30 seconds of running tap water. All protocols except the isolated 5-minute soak in enzymatic soap solution were successful in completely disinfecting the FFLs after experimental contamination with S aureus or C albicans. Various different cleaning methods appeared to properly disinfect FFLs after inoculation with S aureus and C albicans in an in vitro model.

Citation

Dennis Chang, Andrew Florea, Mark Rowe, Kristin A Seiberling. Disinfection of flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopes after in vitro contamination with Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery. 2012 Feb;138(2):119-21