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Updated: Feb 28, 2026
Remote Laboratory Management: Respiratory Virus Diagnostics
Published on: April 6, 2019
Bacterial Contamination and Disinfection Status of Laryngoscopes Stored in Emergency Crash Carts
Jae Hyung Choi1, Young Soon Cho1, Jung Won Lee1
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
Objectives:
To identify bacterial contamination rates of laryngoscope blades and handles stored in emergency crash carts by hospital and area according to the frequency of intubation attempts.
Methods:
One hundred forty-eight handles and 71 blades deemed ready for patient use from two tertiary hospitals were sampled with sterile swabs using a standardized rolling technique. Samples were considered negative (not contaminated) if no colonies were present on the blood agar plate after an 18-hour incubation period. Samples were stratified by hospital and according to the frequency of intubation attempts (10 attempts per year) using the χ2-test and Fisher exact test.
Results:
One or more species of bacteria were isolated from 4 (5.6%) handle tops, 20 (28.2%) handles with knurled surfaces, and 27 (18.2%) blades. No significant differences were found in microbial contamination levels on the handle tops and blades between the two hospitals and two areas according to the frequency of intubation attempts. However, significant differences were found between the two hospitals and two areas in the level of microbial contamination on the handles with knurled surfaces (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
Protocols and policies must be reviewed to standardize procedures to clean and disinfect laryngoscope blades and handles; handles should be re-designed to eliminate points of contact with the blade; and single-use, one-piece laryngoscopes should be introduced.
Insights
Bacterial contamination was found on laryngoscope blades and handles in emergency carts. Knurled handle surfaces showed higher contamination, suggesting a need for improved cleaning and design.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infection Control
- Medical Device Safety
Background:
- Laryngoscopes are critical for airway management during intubation.
- Contamination of reusable medical devices poses a risk of healthcare-associated infections.
- Emergency crash carts store equipment frequently used in critical care settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the bacterial contamination rates of laryngoscope blades and handles.
- To assess contamination based on hospital, geographic area, and intubation frequency.
- To identify specific areas of laryngoscopes with higher contamination levels.
Main Methods:
- Sterile swabs sampled 148 handles and 71 blades from two tertiary hospitals.
- Samples were cultured on blood agar for 18 hours.
- Statistical analysis (chi-squared, Fisher exact test) stratified data by hospital, area, and intubation frequency.
Main Results:
- Bacteria were isolated from 5.6% of handle tops, 28.2% of knurled handle surfaces, and 18.2% of blades.
- No significant difference in contamination on handle tops and blades based on hospital or intubation frequency.
- Significant differences in contamination on knurled handle surfaces between hospitals and areas (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Current cleaning and disinfection protocols for laryngoscopes require review and standardization.
- Laryngoscope handle design should be improved to minimize blade contact points.
- Introduction of single-use, one-piece laryngoscopes is recommended to enhance patient safety.
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