Iatrogenic infection associated with positive airway pressure therapy: A review of precedent, epidemiology, bioaerosols and risk mitigation

Olivia A McGuiness; Sheila Sivam; Collette Menadue; Rania O Salama; Sebastiaan Van Hal; Brendon J Yee; Amanda J Piper

doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2024.102017

Iatrogenic infection associated with positive airway pressure therapy: A review of precedent, epidemiology, bioaerosols and risk mitigation

Sleep Med Rev. 2024 Oct 22:79:102017. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2024.102017. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Olivia A McGuiness¹, Sheila Sivam², Collette Menadue³, Rania O Salama⁴, Sebastiaan Van Hal⁵, Brendon J Yee², Amanda J Piper³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
³ Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
⁴ Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia; Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 39476478
DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2024.102017

Abstract

Currently, evidence-based guidelines about cleaning positive airway pressure devices for maintenance or reprocessing for a new user do not exist. There is no strong evidence of harm caused by contaminated positive airway pressure equipment. Future research opportunities exist to streamline cleaning processes, assure hygiene, and reduce waste.

Keywords: Bacteria; Contamination; Continuous positive airway pressure; Cross-infection; Non-invasive ventilation; Sleep apnea.

Publication types

Review