Why you should be using bacterial filters for your spirometry testing

22/05/2020

Whilst many pulmonary function departments in hospitals are using bacterial/viral filters when performing spirometry tests, in primary care relatively few GP practices have previously used bacterial filters when performing these types of lung part tests.

Improving infection control

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a demand for improved infection command and the apply of bacterial filters, instead of traditional one-way paper-thin mouthpieces, is another manner of reducing the risk of cross contamination during lung function testing.

All patients are susceptible to the risk of infection afterward performing pulmonary part tests and there is ofttimes very footling screening of a patient's infectious status before whatever testing is carried out. The use of stringent precautions, such as bacterial filters, tin be very benign in preventing the spread of infection.

It has besides been establish that there is picayune reduction in lung function measurements caused by using bacterial filters over other cardboard mouthpieces.

The benefits of bacterial filters

Bacterial filters offering a range of benefits to both the patient and the practice over using standard i-way paper-thin mouthpieces:

- They prevent up to 99.99% of bacteria and virus cross-contamination during lung part tests - Tests performed by Nelson Laboratories found on our Dispensable Bacterial/Viral Filters found that they were over 99.99% efficient in capturing bacterial and viral contaminants and tests performed by the Health Protection Agency in England found the filters to capture over 99.four% of aerosol borne micro-organism spores of two different types tested.

- They protect animate circuits, especially menses sensors, from contamination with droplets of saliva and mucus that may introduce errors in test measurement.

- Patients and staff are better protected from inhaling pathogens from the breathing circuitry.

Using bacterial filters at your practice

Our Dispensable Bacterial/Viral Filters are ergonomically shaped to allow the patient to utilize the filter itself as a mouthpiece, rather than having to add together a traditional cardboard spirometry mouthpiece. This decreases dead space and reduces the toll to the practice to as little as 84p per exam.

They are compatible with all the current leading brands of spirometer, including CareFusion (Micro Medical), Vitalograph,Easy On-PC and our ownSpiroConnect spirometer. You can purchase bacterial filters on our website here .

Sources:

Zhang Y. Using barrier filters to protect spirometer sensors from droplet degradation. Letter of the alphabet to editor. Breast 2005; 127: 2294. BACTERIAL/VIRAL FILTERS IN PULMONARY FUNCTION DEPARTMENTS -http://www.wales.nhs.united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland/sitesplus/documents/861/bacterial%20viral%20filter%20info.pdf

Result of bacterial filters on spirometry measurements -http://adc.bmj.com/content/85/4/346.total

HPA. An evaluation of Filtration Efficiencies Against Bacterial and Viral Aerosol Challenges - https://numed.co.united kingdom/documents/download/275?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnumed.co.uk%2Fproducts%2Fdisposable-bacterial-filter-for-spirometry

Nelson Laboratories. Virus Filtration Efficiency Test (VFE) at an Increased Challenge Level - https://numed.co.u.k./documents/download/276?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnumed.co.uk%2Fproducts%2Fdisposable-bacterial-filter-for-spirometry