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Updated: Dec 8, 2025

Topical Airway Anesthesia for Awake-endoscopic Intubation Using the Spray-as-you-go Technique with High Oxygen Flow
Published on: January 13, 2017
Single-use lidocaine hydrochloride 5 per cent w/v and phenylephrine hydrochloride 0.5 per cent w/v topical spray; can
M Jog1, I Zudovaite2, M O'Dwyer2
1Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
Objective:
This study investigated the risk of contamination of lidocaine hydrochloride 5 per cent w/v and phenylephrine hydrochloride 0.5 per cent w/v topical solution after modification of the application technique.
Methods:
This paper reports a prospective basic sciences study involving 22 study samples and 1 control sample of the lidocaine hydrochloride and phenylephrine hydrochloride topical anaesthetic spray. The samples were assessed for microbiological contamination after a single use on patients using a modified application technique. The modification involves keeping the nozzle (actuator) pressed down whilst withdrawing the spray to at least 30 cm (1 ft) from the patient, before releasing the nozzle (actuator) and subsequently reapplying the spray.
Results:
Three of the 23 samples confirmed bacterial growth in the bottle contents, but there was no growth in any of the samples from the pump. These bacteria are considered to be contaminants.
Conclusion:
There is a potential to use the lidocaine hydrochloride 5 per cent w/v and phenylephrine hydrochloride 0.5 per cent w/v topical solution as a multi-use spray by changing the actuator between patients. This would have significant beneficial cost implications without the attendant infection control risk.
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