Bacterial Contamination on Reusable Pulse Oximeter Sensors in Intensive Care Units and Its Manual Disinfection by Alcohol and Sodium Hypochlorite

: Nosocomial infections may result from intensive care unit pulse oximeters. The descriptive study examined oximeter sensor microbiological contamination and the efficacy of manual disinfection with alcohol sodium hypochlorite in five hospital units. Sixty-eight reusable sensors were swabbed, cultured, evaluated after decontamination. In private public hospitals, 12 (35.2%) 13 (37.2%) oximeters tested positive for bacteria. Alcohol 70% reduced microbial load more than 10% hypochlorite. found that purposeful cleaning reduce microorganisms. was efficacious Critical facilities should regularly clean sensors.