PMID: 18198803Jan 18, 2008Paper

Filters reduce the risk of bacterial transmission from contaminated heated humidifiers used with CPAP for obstructive sleep apnea

Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine : JCSM : Official Publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Girolamo A OrtolanoJoseph S Cervia

Abstract

The treatment of choice for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) during sleep, but dryness of the upper airway compromises compliance. Heated humidifiers may mitigate such noncompliance; however, recent observations suggest that their use, particularly if not cleaned, increases the risk of respiratory infections. Humidifier water may be contaminated, but the long-held view that passive humidifiers cannot aerosolize water may obscure the perception of risk of infection. This study challenges the long-held view that "passover" humidifiers do not aerosolize water. With such evidence, this study characterizes the performance of filters to reduce the potential risk of contamination. Heated humidifier water contaminated with bacteria was studied under conditions simulating week-long use of nCPAP for OSA. Bacteria were recovered in 9 of 11 tests from the breathing tubes of CPAP devices fitted with heated humidifiers with water contaminated with Brevundimonas diminuta or Serratia marcescens. Recoverable bacteria ranged from tens to thousands of colony forming units when tested at air flow rates of 60 liters per minute for 90 minutes. Neither organism was recovered from the circuit tubing wh...Continue Reading

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