Reducing Anesthesia Workstation Contamination

Healthcare-associated infections are a source of morbidity and mortality in the United States and have been shown to be more preventable than current incidence. Anesthesia providers may be a source of and vector for some of these infections. Nurse anesthetists provide direct individual care for numerous patients daily, managing airways and invasive devices that contaminate hands with secretions which then may be transferred to the anesthesia workstation. Due to its complexity, the anesthesia machine is difficult to thoroughly clean and may become a reservoir for contaminants. The purpose of this paper will be to examine new interventions being explored to reduce the contamination of the anesthesia workstation. These interventions will include hand hygiene interventions, ultraviolet (UV) radiation for workstation disinfection, and anesthesia workstation barrier devices. Analysis of which interventions are the most effective may help to guide the direction of interventions to help reduce anesthesia machine contamination