Infection control best practices with Porter and Matrx nasal hoods and breathing circuits:
- Follow the appropriate User Manual instructions (all the links on next page) for cleaning, disinfecting and sterilization temperatures and cycle times.
a. For instructions that indicate wiping down hoses, tubing and other parts with surface disinfectants in between uses – best practices would always be to clean, rinse, and then steam sterilize after each use patient use. Anything that is in contact with a patient should be sterilized. - Single use nasal hoods are single use – do not wipe and reuse.
- “Paper” nasal hood insert liners / barriers are not protection from cross contamination – these should not be used in any situation as a solution.
- Autoclavable nasal hoods are intended to be sterilized after each use – both the outer and inner liners (for those models that have inner liners).
- Portions of the breathing circuit that can be steam sterilized should be sterilized after each use.
a. Porter Breathing Circuit: masks, grey inner liners, coaxial tubing, plastic connectors and breathing bag
i. Breathing bag does not need sterilization after each use – patient is not in contact with the bag. Consider sterilization if Dr / Assistant handles the bag during the procedure.
ii. Fresh gas corrugated hose is not sterilizable – but also not in contact with the patient (only allows a one-way directional flow to the patient). The office can use soap and water to wash and rinse as needed.
b. Matrx Breathing Circuit: the complete breathing circuit, connectors, scavenging cone, and breathing bag.
i. Blue nasal hoods – sterilize after each use
ii. Dynomite single use hoods – dispose of after each use.
c. Silhouette Breathing Circuit: white breathing circuit and connectors
i. Silhouette masks – dispose of after each use - Consider using a completely single use nasal hood and breathing circuit such as Silhouette: www.porterinstrument.com/silhouette
We would caution against using chemical disinfectants on the masks or liners. These can leave a residue on the mask that can irritate or even chemically burn the patient’s skin or mucous membranes if the mask or liner is not rinsed thoroughly with clean water.
Links to User Manuals
Cleaning instructions of the Matrx MDM on page 7 of the following manual:
Cleaning instructions of the MXR on page 15 of the following manual:
Cleaning instructions of the Digital MDM on page 12 of the following manual:
Cleaning instructions of the Porter rubber goods (Porter scavenger and inner/outer liners) on page 7 and 8 of the following manual:
Cleaning instructions of the Matrx Scavenger and blue nasal hoods on page 6 of the following manual:
Cleaning instructions of the Silhouette breathing circuit on page 7 of the following manual: