The safety of reused endotracheal tubes sterilized according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To investigate safety issues associated with the reuse of sterilized endotracheal tubes (ETTs). DESIGN Prospective, randomized study. SETTING Laboratory in vivo testing. INTERVENTION Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were inoculated onto ETT cuffs. Following inoculation, ETTs were sterilized with either ethylene oxide or glutaraldehyde. Cuffs were then swabbed and cultured for 24 hours. To examine changes in the physical integrities of sterilized ETT cuffs, ETTs were sterilized with ethylene oxide gas once, twice, or three times (the E1, E2, and E3 groups, respectively). Alternatively, ETTs were soaked in glutaraldehyde for 150, 300, 450, or 600 minutes (the G1, G2, G3, and G4 groups, respectively). MEASUREMENTS Endotracheal tube cuffs were considered nonsterile if a visible colony of test organisms was cultured, and sterile if no colony was cultured. Changes in the physical integrity of sterilized ETT cuffs were determined by measuring changes in intracuff pressure or tensile strength. MAIN RESULTS No growth of bacteria was observed in sterilized tubes. Endotracheal tube cuffs of the E1 and E2 groups showed almost the same physical integrity as those of the control group, whereas E3 group cuffs were softer than those of the untreated controls. Endotracheal tube cuffs of the G1 and G2 groups were harder than untreated controls; than of those of the G3 and G4 groups were similar to the controls. CONCLUSIONS Endotracheal tubes can be reused sterilized safely. The physical integrity of ETT cuffs may be compromised by glutaraldehyde or ethylene oxide sterilization treatments.