Critical Care 

  • All respiratory equipment must be protected with a high efficient filter e.g. BS EN 13328-1 
  • Disposable respiratory equipment should be used wherever possible. Re-usable equipment must at a minimum be disinfected in accordance with manufacturers' instructions 
  • The ventilator circuit should not be broken unless absolutely necessary 
  • Ventilators must be placed on standby when carrying out bagging 
  • The use of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation equipment and aerosolising procedures carries with it an increased risk of transmission of infection 
  • Water humidification should be avoided and a heat and moisture exchanger should be used if possible 
  • Only essential staff should be in the patient's room when airway management e.g. intubation, extubation, suctioning, bronchoscopy, cough inducing activities is being carried out 

Theatres 

  • Theatres must be informed in advance 
  • The patient should be transported directly to the operating theatre and should wear a surgical mask where possible 
  • The patient should be anaesthetised and recovered in the theatre 
  • Staff should wear PPE as per Trust procedure
  • Note that intubation/extubation is an aerosol generating procedure, enhance PPE must be worn as per Trust procedure
  • Disposable anaesthetic equipment should be used wherever possible 
  • Re-usable anaesthetic equipment should be decontaminated in line with manufacturers’ instructions 
  • The anaesthetic machine must be protected by a filter with viral efficiency to 99.99% 
  • Instruments and devices should transported safely and decontaminated in the normal manner 
  • The theatre should be cleaned as per local protocol and in line with the disinfection procedure. 
  • Theatres should environmentally cleaned with Chlorclean / Sochlor after the patient leaves 

Medical devices 

Return to Clinical management