Nebulizer disinfection in Ribeirão Preto health units

Abstract

Considering the widely divergent views of the nursing staff with respect to nebulizer disinfecfion in Basic Health Units (BHU) and to the lack of standardizafion of the use of chemical products and of the disinfection process as a whole, the author undertook an investigafion with the folowing objectives: to observe systematically the routine procedure of nebulizer disinfection in the aerosol room of a BHU, and to detect, point out and warn about possible faults in the disinfecfion process. The disinfection process was observed directly and systematically and a questionnaire with open questions was applied to the nurse responsible for the service. The results showed that the process of disinfecfion performed is not consistent with recommendations by the Health Departament and/or State Health Secretariat, and that the personnel involved in this activity has incomplete knowledge of the standardizafion of the use of the chemical products utilized and of the condifions that interfere with their action during the disinfecfion process. The results obtained indicate the need for a standardization of the disinfection process as whole, according to current sanitary norms and for continuei in-service education in order to improve the quality of nursing care provided to the users of health services.