LUNG-VOLUME EQUIPMENT AND INFECTION-CONTROL

As part of the consensus workshop regarding lung volume measurements f or the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society, thi s background paper reviews mechanisms and risks of cross-infection res ultant from performing measurements of absolute lung volumes either by body plethysmography, gas dilution, or gas wash-out techniques, Publi shed reports of infection attributable to the performance of lung volu me measurements are extremely rare, Nevertheless, because some infecti ous agents could be transmitted during measurements of lung volumes, a nd because of widespread concerns both of patients and some medical pe rsonnel about the risks of transmission of infections during inspirati on from equipment used by other patients, a variety of measures have b een advocated to minimize the risks of cross-infection, Workshop parti cipants were divided in opinion about whether such testing does indeed pose significant risk of cross-infection, and also could not agree re garding optimal measures to prevent cross-infection. Although there is conflicting information regarding the efficacy of particulate filters for protecting cross-contamination of downstream equipment and tubing , the author recommends that such filters be used when making lung vol ume measurements, but only if the filter has acceptably low resistance (e.g. < 0.15 kPa.L-1.s (1.5 cmH(2)O.L-1.s)), and the measurements are adjusted for the impact of the added resistance and dead space.