Presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria on ready-to-use laryngoscope blades and handles: A cross-sectional study

Background

The presence of microorganisms in laryngoscopes emphasizes the risk to patient safety during orotracheal intubations.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out in university hospital in the inpatient, emergency, intensive care, and surgical center sectors. Microorganisms were recovered from the blades using a filter membrane and from the handles using swab. They were then sown on blood agar plates and incubated at 35 °C (± 2 °C) for a maximum of 5 days. Microorganisms were identified by mass spectrometry, antimicrobial susceptibility tests were carried out for pathogenic bacteria. Associations were made using χ² and Fisher exact tests, and Poisson regression model.

Results

A total of 158 blades and 45 handles were analyzed. Microbial growth was observed on 59.5% of the blades and 64.4% of the handles, with fungi and bacteria isolated, such as Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter sp. Multidrug-resistant bacteria, producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases and carbapenemases, were found.

Conclusions

Multidrug-resistant bacteria were found on ready-to-use laryngoscopes. In the surgical center, there was lower probability of microbial growth, while the intensive care sector showed higher probability. This study reinforces the warning that this equipment is a potential source of transmission of microorganisms, especially multiresistant strains.