Infection Control in Anaesthesia

(1) A named consultant in each department of anaesthesia should liaise with Trust Infection Control Teams and Occupational Health Departments to ensure that relevant specialist standards are established and monitored in all areas of anaesthetic practice. (2) Precautions against the transmission of infection between patient and anaesthetist or between patients should be a routine part of anaesthetic practice. In particular, anaesthetists must ensure that hand hygiene becomes an indispensable part of their clinical culture. (3) Anaesthetists must comply with local theatre infection control policies including the safe use and disposal of sharps. (4) Anaesthetic equipment is a potential vector for transmission of disease. Policies should be documented to ensure that nationally recommended decontamination practices are followed and audited for all reusable anaesthetic equipment. (5) Single use equipment should be utilised where appropriate but a sterile supplies department (SSD) should process reusable items. (6) An effective, new bacterial ⁄ viral breathing circuit filter should be used for every patient and a local policy developed for the re-use of breathing circuits in line with manufacturer’s instructions. The AAGBI recommends that anaesthetic departments should consider changing anaesthetic circuits on a daily basis in line with daily cleaning protocols. (7) Appropriate infection control precautions should be established for each anaesthetic procedure, to include maximal barrier precautions for the insertion of central venous catheters, spinal and epidural procedures and any invasive procedures in high risk patients.