Re-use of intravenous infusion equipment

We have become aware of recent audit data indicating that some anaesthetists are re-using drug infusion syringes and administration sets for subsequent patients. This practice ignores existing published guidance from the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain & Ireland, which states "All infusions, administration sets or items in contact with the vascular system... are for single patient use". Similar statements are made by individual manufacturers of drugs and disposable equipment.

Although we are not aware of any published complications arising as a result of such practice, the possible consequences of cross contamination are potentially very severe. In the absence of any evidence as to the safety or otherwise of changing or re-using individual components of infusion systems, it is the view of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland and the UK Society for Intravenous Anaesthesia that drugs and disposables for total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) should be strictly single patient use.

References

1. Karmarkar S, Kapoor V. Survey of the practices of administration of TIVA/TCI in the North West Region of the UK. Poster Presentation at the 1st World Congress of TIVA-TCI, Venice, 27-29 September 2007.

2. Infection Control in Anaesthesia. AAGBI, 2002.

20 Nov 2007