The Effects Of Nebulizer Cleaning And Disinfection Training On The Knowledge Levels And Practises Of The Caregivers Of Patients With Cystic Fibrosis

Background: We aimed to increase the knowledge of cystic fibrosis(CF) patients’ caregivers by a training program for nebulizer cleaning and disinfection.We performed pre - posttest, took swab cultures from the nebulizers. Methods: A questionnaire about nebulizer cleaning was applied to caregivers of the 103 CF patients. Training sheets were given, one-hour practical training was performed, swab samples were taken from the nebulizers. Questionnaire was applied after 1-3 months again. Results: The study included 103 patients, mean age was 9.8±6 years.The person completing the questionnaire was 82.5% mother.The cleaning rate of the nebulizer after each use was %54.4 while disinfection rate was %29. After the education, this ratio was %77.7 and %69, respectively.While the most frequently used cleaning method was placing the nebulizer in vinegar water(30%) in the pretests;it was changed to warm water with liquid dish soap (39.8%, n=41) after the education. 46.6%(n=48) of the patients were not disinfecting their nebulizers. After the education, this ratio was decreased to 8.7 %. Swab samples were taken from 67 patients’ nebulizers. Organisms such as coagulase negative staphylococcus,Candida parapsilosis,S. maltophilia were identified in 1-3% of the cultures. Microbiological colonisation rate in the group of the ones who disinfects nebulizers after each use(n=21) was 38.1 %(n=8) while it was 60%(n=15) in the group of the ones who never disinfects(n=15), (p=0.23). Conclusions: After the education, the rate of disinfection and cleaning was increased. Cleaning of nebulizer parts should be taught via education programs.