Laryngoscope blades and handles as sources of cross-infection: an integrative review

The lack of standardization of efficient procedures to clean and disinfect laryngoscope blades and handles, which may be important sources of infection during their clinical use, has been reported previously, revealing contamination with blood, body fluids and micro-organisms. This paper aimed to evaluate the evidence available in the literature regarding the risk of laryngoscope blades and handles as a source of patient contamination. An integrative review of the literature was performed using databases such as Medline, LILACS, SciELO, Cochrane Library, BDENF and PubMed, and keywords in Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). The sample comprised 20 articles published between 1994 and 2012. The studies demonstrated risk of cross-infection and no consensus in current guidelines regarding cleaning and disinfection of this equipment. It was concluded that there are important gaps to be filled and urgent investigations required in order to facilitate standardization of efficient procedures to clean and disinfect laryngoscope blades and handles, and in turn to reduce the potential risk to which the patient and/or health team is exposed.