CONVECTION WARMERS - NOT JUST HOT AIR

We sought to determine whether the forced air convection warmers (nine Bair Huggers, Augustine Medical, and one Warm Touch, Mallinkrodt Medi cal) used in our operating theatres could be a source of microbial pat hogens. Agar plates were placed directly in the air stream of the warm ers. Four of these grew potentially pathogenic organisms. When the war mers were set to blow through perforated blankets, no growth occurred. Three of the warmers were swabbed and sites of colonisation were foun d in their hoses. After fixing a microbial filter to the end of the ho se, organisms were no longer detectable. We conclude that these warmin g devices are a potential source of nosocomial infection. They should only be used in conjunction with perforated blankets, should have thei r microbial filters changed regularly and their hoses sterilised. The inclusion of a microbial filter into the nozzle of the hose could be i ncorporated into the design of the warmer.