ERJ
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Clausen, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Clausen, J.
Eur Respir J 1997; 10: 1928-1932
Copyright © ERS Journals Ltd 1997

Original Articles

Lung volume equipment and infection control. ERS/ATS Workshop Report Series. European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society

JL Clausen

As part of the consensus workshop regarding lung volume measurements for the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society, this background paper reviews mechanisms and risks of cross-infection resultant from performing measurements of absolute lung volumes either by body plethysmography, gas dilution, or gas wash-out techniques. Published reports of infection attributable to the performance of lung volume measurements are extremely rare. Nevertheless, because some infectious agents could be transmitted during measurements of lung volumes, and because of widespread concerns both of patients and some medical personnel about the risks of transmission of infections during inspiration from equipment used by other patients, a variety of measures have been advocated to minimize the risks of cross-infection. Workshop participants were divided in opinion about whether such testing does indeed pose significant risk of cross-infection, and also could not agree regarding 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 volume measurements, but only if the filter has acceptably low resistance (e.g. <0.15 kPa x L(-1) x s (1.5 cmH2O x L(-1) x s)), and the measurements are adjusted for the impact of the added resistance and dead space.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Eur Respir JHome page
H. Normand, F. Normand, X. Le Coutour, M-A. Metges, and A. Mouadil
Clinical evaluation of a screen pneumotachograph as an in-line filter
Eur. Respir. J., August 1, 2007; 30(2): 358 - 363.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur Respir JHome page
J. Wanger, J. L. Clausen, A. Coates, O. F. Pedersen, V. Brusasco, F. Burgos, R. Casaburi, R. Crapo, P. Enright, C. P. M. van der Grinten, et al.
Standardisation of the measurement of lung volumes
Eur. Respir. J., September 1, 2005; 26(3): 511 - 522.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch. Dis. Child.Home page
A W A Kamps, K Vermeer, R J Roorda, and P L P Brand
Effect of bacterial filters on spirometry measurements
Arch. Dis. Child., October 1, 2001; 85(4): 346 - 347.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1997 by the European Respiratory Society.