Objectives: There is a lack of standardization and supporting data regarding the duration preassembled and preprimed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuits are expected to be sterile. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate whether preassembled and preprimed ECMO circuits could maintain sterility for a period up to 65 days.
Design: Four ECMO circuits (2 neonatal/pediatric¼" and 2 adolescent/adult ⅜ ") were assembled and primed under sterile conditions and maintained at room temperature. Culture samples were obtained from each circuit and plated within 1 hour. Culture samples were obtained on day 0 when assembled and primed then every 5 days up to day 65. Samples were plated on several different media including the following: blood agar plate: trypticase soy agar with 5% sheep blood, MacConkey agar, and thioglycollate broth then incubated at 35°C for 3 days.
Results: All cultures obtained from the priming solution from of the¼" and ⅜ " ECMO circuits produced no microbial or fungal growth for the 65-day study period.
Conclusion: These pilot data suggest preprimed ECMO circuits may maintain sterility for a period up to 65 days. Additional studies evaluating a larger number of ECMO circuits are needed to confirm these findings.
Keywords: ECMO; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuits; pediatric; sterility.