Classic Pages of the Journal of Extracorporeal Technology Heater-Cooler Devices as a Conceivable Source of Infection

摘要

Weitkemper et al. (1) concisely stated the 2002 issues surrounding the use of tap water in heater-cooler devices (the U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA] is using "HCDs") in the operating room environment. They shared their method to handle the challenge of removing bacteria from the tap water in their heater-coolers and heat exchangers. This classic JECT article is profound reading within the context of nontuberculous Mycobacterium (NTM) epidemic we are experiencing today, worldwide with HCDs. Current estimates from case series publications suggest an approximate incidence rate of 4:10,000-1:1,000 cardiac surgical patients.