Condensed water in the dryline water trap system of capnography as a potential source of infection: a case report.

Abstract

Capnometry is the measurement of carbon dioxide (CO2) in a sample of gas. Capnography is continuous monitoring of the concentration or partial pressure of CO2 in respiratory gases. Here, we are reporting two cases of bacterial isolation from the water trap being used in the intensive care unit (ICU) and in one case was admitted to COVID ICU whose sample from the collected water trap was sterile. In all three of these patients a side stream capnography monitoring was being used. On close inspection of water trap chamber of capnograph we saw some collection of condensed water in all the three chambers. We sent the samples of all three patients for culture sensitivity out of which two was positive and one was sterile later on. The ICU- acquired infections are becoming a challenging health concern especially when caused by multi drug resistant pathogens and in current COVID 19 pandemic risks to health care worker are even more and it always warrants a close observation. In our case contamination of breathing systems may occurred because of compliance failure possibly due to improper inspection and functional testing of the sampling tube and exhaust tube which may lead to the reversal of the direction of flow through the sampling tube in a diverting respiratory gas monitor (RGM).

Keywords

• capnography. drywater trap system
• condensed water
• covid-19
• infections
• respirator.