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Current procedures for cleaning anesthesia airway equipment as assessed by the presence of visible and occult blood on laryngoscope blades and handles as labeled "ready for patient use" has been reported to be ineffective. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the hepatitis B virus (HBV) are 2 commonly seen pathogens that frequently are found in the healthcare setting. It has been shown that HBV can survive on a dry surface for at least 7 days and both HIV and HBV are transmitted via blood. The potential for cross-contamination from airway equipment to patient has been shown in several studies. To prevent further potential infections, it should be ascertained why anesthesia providers are not all using disposable laryngoscope blades. The purpose of this literature review is to determine the use and infection control practices of disposable laryngoscope blades. Their frequency of use, their evaluation of ease of use, and any complications encountered when using the disposable blade are reviewed, as well as the perceptions of anesthesia providers regarding disposable laryngoscope blades.

Laryngoscope handles do not usually come in direct contact with the patient's mucous membranes. Consequently, routine disinfection of laryngoscope handles is not currently standard practice unless gross contamination is clearly evident. Recent reports indicate that apparently clean handles may be contaminated with blood or body fluids. No report examined microbes on handles. The present article describes the incidence and types of microbes on laryngoscope handles after their use in the operating rooms of a 502-bed medical center in northwestern Pennsylvania. Twenty laryngoscope handles were cultured on Mueller Hinton 5% sheep blood agar plates. The plates were incubated at 37 degrees C for 48 hours and examined for growth. The identification, incidence, and susceptibility patterns of organisms were determined. Microorganisms were present on all 20 laryngoscope handles. Nine different types were isolated; some strains were resistant to multiple antibiotics. Organisms were categorized as contaminants or opportunistic pathogens. The presence of opportunistic pathogens places anesthesia providers and patients at risk of nosocomial infections. Based on the recommendations of the 1997 American Association of Nurse Anesthetists' Infection Control Guide and the results of the present study, institutional guidelines should be established for the use of disposable laryngoscope covers, high-level (destroying all microorganisms with the exception of high numbers of bacterial spores) disinfection, or sterilization of laryngoscope equipment between each patient use.