Sheathing laryngoscope after intubation lowers contamination risks

Editor's Note

When the anesthesiologist sheaths the laryngoscope immediately after endotracheal intubation, contamination of the IV hub, patient, and intraoperative environment is significantly reduced, this study finds.

In a simulated study using ultraviolet light to detect contamination of seven sites on a patient, contamination was found on an average of 5.7 sites when anesthesia residents wore one set of gloves, 2.1 sites when residents wore double gloves and discarded the top pair after intubation, and 0.4 sites when double gloves were worn and the laryngoscope was sheathed in one of the outer gloves after intubation. Findings were similar for 18 environmental sites.

BACKGROUND: Anesthesiologists may contribute to postoperative infections by means of the transmission of blood and pathogens to the patient and the environment in the operating room (OR). Our primary aims were to determine whether contamination of the IV hub, the anesthesia work area, and the pat...