information on cleaning&use of volumatic spacer for reversibility.

I know this has been asked previously but concerned re cross infection with use of volumatic spacers for reversibility testing.Patients are not given a script as not always diagnosed.Spacers are washed with soapy water after each patient&alcohol wipe around mouthpiece.I did try sterilising with milton but this affected the insides of spacer-leaving crystalline effect.Any suggestions or do we need to nebulise for reversibility?Una

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LVS and washing

Hi Una,

I suppose it depends on where you are working. Here in our Trust I work over 3 sites & each one does something different depending on past policies.

We send them from one out patients setting to CSSD but in the other we just wash with hot soapy water. However we are trying to get the same policy in all areas & that would be to send them to CSSD. What does your infection control nurse say? Even if you are community the PCT must have someone who is responsible for this.

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Any Further ideas with volumatic and reversibilty?

I work in a GP practice and like you have been washing the spacer in hot soapy water - have you had any other ideas since posting this in Oct ?

Regards

Karen

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Hi, I am trying to find the piece of research i read in the Airways Journal 2006 which advised washing the volumatic in warm soapy water then sterilising with sodium hypochlorite solution 1%. I get this from our local pharmacy and use a 1:100 solution 80mls Hypochlorite:8 litres of water and soak for 30mins.Hope this helps.