About Alex Colburn

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So far Alex Colburn has created 20 blog entries.

Journal of Hospital Infection: Forced-Air Warming An Infection-Control “Hazard” in Implant Surgery

StopSurgicalInfections.org recently submitted a press release regarding a review article published by Journal of Hospital Infection.  The press release is as follows: Surgical-infection experts have unambiguously concluded that forced-air warming “...does contaminate ultra-clean air ventilation….” in the operating room. Their advice: Use air-free warming during implant surgery. PRLog - Nov. 12, 2014 - MINNEAPOLIS -- “Infection Control Hazards Associated with the Use [...]

By |2018-05-17T20:25:51-05:00December 1st, 2014|
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Patient Advocate Warns Against Forced-Air Warming

A well-known patient advocate now urges surgical patients to avoid forced-air warming—even to change hospitals if necessary. The advocate, Rosie Bartel, speaks from experience. Infected with MRSA during a knee-replacement procedure at a hospital using forced-air warming, Bartel has undergone 27 subsequent operations— including amputation of her leg to the hip. The MRSA remains active. [...]

By |2018-05-17T20:25:52-05:00June 22nd, 2014|
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Infection Risk from Forced-air Warming Considered; Study on Bacterial Contamination Recommended

International Orthopedic Consensus “We recognize the theoretical risk posed by forced air warming blankets,” concluded the Consensus Statement recently released by the International Consensus on Periprosthetic Joint Infection. While not urging a change in practice, the Consensus Statement recommended that further studies be undertaken regarding the safety of forced-air warming (“FAW”) in orthopedic implant surgery. Delegates [...]

By |2018-05-17T20:25:52-05:00March 4th, 2014|
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Nursing Journal: Forced-Air Warmers May Allow Pathogens to Contact Surgical Wounds

AORN Journal, noting concerns about infection risk from forced-air warmers, called for multi-center, randomized, controlled trials. Evidence of bacteria in the air-flow paths of forced-air warmers; authors ask manufacturers to consider redesign. In a continuing-education review article in the October issue of AORN Journal,published by the Association of Operating Room Nurses, the authors examined 192 sources.  Their [...]

By |2018-05-17T20:25:52-05:00February 7th, 2014|
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Recent A & A study: “These findings warrant future research into the effects of forced air warming…during contamination-sensitive surgery.”

August 2013  Research in the August edition of Anesthesia & Analgesia, a publication of the International Anesthesia Research Society, and appearing under the name of the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation stated: “[F]orced air warming was found to establish convection currents that mobilized resident air from nonsterile areas (under the anesthesia drape) upward and into the surgical site.” The [...]

By |2018-05-17T20:25:52-05:00January 28th, 2014|
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AANA Journal: 96% of Bair Hugger Blowers Contaminated

August 2013 Research published in the August issue of AANA Journal revealed that 96% of Bair Hugger forced-air warming (FAW) blowers studied were generating “significant levels of contamination.”  The researchers, including two UK orthopedic surgeons, measured up to 110,000 particles per cubic foot--82,500 particles per second.  More than 70% of the blowers “had hose-end airflows with higher contamination [...]

By |2018-05-17T20:25:52-05:00January 16th, 2014|
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“Wave” of Bair Hugger Litigation?

A news article published in Clinical Quality & Infection Control, a publication of Becker’s ASC Review, stated: “Recent studies published in medical journals questioning the safety of forced-air patient warming in orthopedic implant and other ultra-clean surgeries could mean a wave of new litigation.” The studies, said the writer, show that forced-air blowers contain internally generated airborne [...]

By |2018-05-17T20:25:52-05:00July 31st, 2013|
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Infection Guidance: Air Turbulence in Operating Room Increases Risk of Orthopedic Infection

In its Guide to the Elimination of Orthopedic Surgical Site Infections, the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) states, “If airflow is interrupted, rapid air turbulence can stir settled particles, enabling them to become airborne thus increasing the risk for wound contamination.” By applying recent research to APIC’s Guidance, StopSurgicalInfections.org found that [...]

By |2018-05-17T20:27:03-05:00July 29th, 2013|
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New ECRI Guidance Expresses “Concern” About Forced-Air Warming in Implant Surgery

In the latest issue of Health Devices, ECRI Institute analyzed the safety of forced-air patient warming, concluding that thermal currents are “particularly worrisome” in implant surgery. Dr. Scott Augustine, inventor of both Bair Hugger and (air-free) HotDog patient warming and CEO of Augustine Temperature Management, comments. Minneapolis, MN (PRWeb), April 17, 2013 -  After reviewing multiple [...]

By |2018-05-17T20:25:52-05:00April 17th, 2013|
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Video Evidence of the Vortex Caused by the Radiant Waste Heat from FAW Blankets

The video clip below is an excerpt from a nurse education course.  It shows the vortex-effect caused by the radiant waste heat from forced-air patient warming (FAW) blankets, similar to what was recently studied and published by orthopedic surgeons A.J. Legg and A.J.Hamer. The Legg and Hamer study, published in the Bone & Joint Journal in March 2013, [...]

By |2018-05-17T20:25:52-05:00April 15th, 2013|
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