A sleeved filter apparatus prevents germs from becoming resident on both theinterior and exterior of a breathing device (10). The sleeved filter apparatusincludes a filter member (12), and a sleeve member (14). The filter member(12) is composed of a first enclosure half, and a second enclosure half (60,62) which are sealed on their interior ends (73, 80). The external ends of thetwo enclosure halves have connectors (36, 76) for connecting the sleevedfilter apparatus to a breathing device and/or a patient airway component. Afilter element (64) is disposed inside the filter member enclosure forpreventing gases from flowing between the first connector, and the secondconnector of the filter member without passing through the filter element.This filter member prevents germs from passing between the patient, and theinterior of the breathing device. The sleeve member (14) is made of a flexiblematerial, and has a first open end (100), a second open end (102), and amiddle portion (104) extending between the first open end (100) and the secondopen end (102). The first open end (100) of the sleeve member (14) is sealengaged to the filter member (12).
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