Jack and Brent et al.

Table 1

Filter
No. / Patient/Treatment / fluids/medication applied via filter membrane / Particles /cm2
found by EM
1 / negative control / None / 6
2 / open heart surgery / standard infusion (prefilled syringe; Sterofundin BG-5®, BBraun) no additional bolus injection / 8
3 / open heart surgery / paracetamole, furosemide, spironolactone, prednisolone, cefazolin, ranitidine / 384
4 / open heart surgery / low dose heparin, ranitidine, furosemide, spironolactone, cefazolin / 343
5 / open heart surgery / low dose heparin, standard infusion (Sterofundin BG-5®), no additional bolus injections / 113
6 / renal transplantation / low dose heparin, cefotaxim, prednisolone, furosmide, spironolactone, metamizole / 1143
7 / renal transplantation / standard infusion (Sterofundin BG-5®), no additional bolus injection / 37
8 / negative control / None / 45
9 / liver transplantation / parenteral nutrition, potassium chloride / 430
10 / Clostridium tetani infection / low dose heparin, potassium chloride, insulin / 238
12 / liver transplantation / parenteral nutrition, high dose heparin, potassium chloride / 1424
13 / liver transplantation / Glucose 40%, potassium chloride / 97
14 / abdominal surgery / standard infusion (Sterofundin BG-5®), no additional bolus injection / 124
15 / renal transplantation / standard infusion (Sterofundin BG-5®), magnesium aspartate, piritramide, paracetamole / 392
16 / renal transplantation / standard infusion (Sterofundin BG -5 ®) colloidal volume therapy (Gelafundin®), magnesiumaspartat, potassiumchloride / 521
17 / renal transplantation / cefotaxim, paracetamol, prednisolone, piritramide / 407
18 / renal transplantation / low dose heparin, cefotaxim, prednisolone / 279
19 / liver transplantation / cefotaxim, prednisolone, pantoprazol / 277
20 / liver transplantation / parenteral nutrition, potassium chloride, insulin / 1021
21 / Clostridium tetani infection / 4-Hydroxy butyric acid (GABA), no additional bolus injection / 1993
22 / Clostridium tetani infection / low dose heparin, ampicillin, meropenem, aciclovir, potassium chloride, phenobarbital / 1344
23 / Clostridium tetani infection / clonidine, fentanyl, midazolame / 424
24 / negative control / None / 93
25 / negative control / None / 46

Tab. 1 Data of the analyzed filter membranes: Table showsparticle count of 25 analyzed filter membranes using EM including data of 5 negative controls. Negative control filters were filled with sodium chloride 0.9% and send to the laboratory together with the filters used on the ward. Investigated filters were flushed by 5 mL of NaCl 0.9% on the PICU and again with 5 ml destilled water in the laboratory. In addition remaining liquids afer flushing were removed by applicating 10 mL of air (air is only able to press the remaining liquid through the membrane, the air itself is not penetrating the wetted membrane and is passing the air vent membrane.Investigators were blinded for origin of the filters and patients data. Used filters showed a mean of 550 particles/cm² (8-1993 particles/cm²) which was significantly higher than the mean particle load of controls (p<0.001).