Background: Contamination of the breathing circuit and medication preparation surface of an anesthesia machine can increase the risk of cross-infection.
Objective: To evaluate the contamination of the anesthetic medication preparation surface, respiratory circuits, and devices used in general anesthesia with assisted mechanical ventilation.
Design and setting: Cross-sectional, quantitative study conducted at the surgical center of a philanthropic hospital, of medium complexity located in the municipality of Três Lagoas, in the eastern region of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul.
Methods: Eighty-two microbiological samples were collected from the breathing circuits. After repeating the samples in different culture media, 328 analyses were performed.
Results: A higher occurrence of E. coli, Enterobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae (P < 0.001) were observed. Variations were observed depending on the culture medium and sample collection site.
Conclusion: The study findings underscore the inadequate disinfection of the inspiratory and expiratory branches, highlighting the importance of stringent cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces.