For CPAP Therapy Healthcare Professionals
Multi-patient reprocessing of CPAP masks and devices:
For CPAP Masks
For multi-patient reprocessing of Fisher & Paykel Healthcare CPAP masks, please follow the instructions in our mask Disinfection and Sterilization guides. These are available on each of the relevant product pages on our website, or you can ask your local sales representative. These instructions have been validated to achieve high-level disinfection* or sterilization* of our masks.
The virus that causes COVID-19 is from the coronavirus family of enveloped viruses1. These viruses are known to have a low resistance to microbicidal processes2. Therefore, the recommended disinfection and sterilization methods are sufficient according to the relevant required processes, e.g. Cidex OPA™ or Sterrad™. For more information on Disinfection and Sterilization, see https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/pdf/guidelines/disinfection-guidelines-H.pdf.
For CPAP Devices
For multi-patient reprocessing of Fisher & Paykel Healthcare CPAP devices, components that are exposed to the air path should only be cleaned or disinfected according to the F&P Disinfection and Sterilization guides. These are available on each of the relevant product pages on our website, or you can ask your local sales representative.
If the Disinfection and Sterilization Guides across our product range cannot be followed, then single-patient use is recommended.
Information about aerosolization
There has been some concern among healthcare professionals about certain respiratory medical devices enabling the spread of COVID-19. CPAP therapy is not specifically named as an aerosol-generating procedure in the WHO Interim guidance for Infection prevention and control during health care when novel coronavirus infection is suspected3. However, there has been uncertainty about the potential creation of aerosols from all forms of non-invasive respiratory support.
The WHO interim guidelines for Clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection when novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection is suspected4 state that recent publications suggest CPAP does not create widespread dispersion of exhaled air. However, there is uncertainty about whether CPAP use could potentially increase the risk of aerosolization of the virus. We recommend that individuals take precautions outlined in the WHO guidelines.
*High-level disinfection is defined as complete elimination of all microorganisms in or on an instrument, except for all bacterial spores if large numbers are present.
*Sterilization is the complete elimination of all viable microorganisms
Cidex is a registered trademark of Advanced Sterilization Products, a division of Ethicon Inc., a Johnson & Johnson Company.
Sterrad is a registered trademark of Advanced Sterilization Products, a division of Ethicon Inc., a Johnson & Johnson Company.
- Fehr AR, Perlman S. Coronaviruses: An Overview of Their Replication and Pathogenesis. Mol Biol. 2015; (https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2438-7_1)
- FDA. Reprocessing Medical Devices in Health Care Settings: Validation Methods and Labeling Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/media/80265/download [Accessed 27th March 2020]
- World Health Organization. Infection prevention and control during health care when novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection is suspected. Interim guidance. 25 January 2020. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications-detail/infection-prevention-and-control-during-health-care-when-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-is-suspected-20200125 [Accessed 27th March 2020]
- World Health Organization. Clinical management of severe acute respiratory infection when novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection is suspected Interim guidance 28th January 2020. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications-detail/clinical-management-of-severe-acute-respiratory-infection-when-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-is-suspected [Accessed 27th March 2020]