Risk of Bacterial Exposure to the Anesthesiologist's Face During Intubation and Extubation

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Infectious Disease Control
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Anesthesiologists face occupational risks from patient respiratory secretions.
• Understanding bacterial exposure during airway procedures is crucial for infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify bacterial exposure on anesthesiologists' face shields during endotracheal intubation and extubation.
• To identify specific procedural phases associated with increased bacterial contamination risk.

Main Methods:

• Six resident anesthesiologists performed 132 procedures (66 intubations, 66 extubations).
• Face shields were swabbed before and after intubation/extubation procedures.
• Bacterial cultures were analyzed for colony-forming units (CFUs).

Main Results:

• No bacterial growth was detected on face shields before or after intubation.
• Post-extubation face shields showed bacterial growth in 15.2% of cases (p=0.001).
• Bacterial contamination correlated with post-extubation coughing episodes (correlation coefficient=0.403).

Conclusions:

• Patient extubation, especially with coughing, poses a significant risk of bacterial exposure to anesthesiologists' faces.
• Appropriate facial protection is recommended during the emergence from general anesthesia.
• This study underscores the importance of protective measures during airway management procedures.