Monitoring of biofilm formations in cpap masks and investigation of the efficacy of frequently preferred orthophthalaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide in CPAP masks to prevent biofilm

Biofilm can form on many surfaces such as medical devices, biomedical materials, and implants used in the health field as well as causing problems in the food and industrial fields for many years; it can also develop on host epithelial cells and mucosal surfaces, causing different diseases and nosocomial infections. Especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in the disinfection and sterilization circulation of reusable medical materials in healthcare institutions. The biofilm formation of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Serratia liquefaciens strains in Kastamonu University, Department of Biology, Microbiology Laboratory microbial culture collection on reusable CPAP masks used to provide positive pressure respiratory support and the effectiveness of mechanical cleaning, OPA, and hydrogen peroxide chemicals on the biofilm attached to the surface were examined. Positive results were obtained for some of the combinations in line with SEM images and statistical analysis data. As a result; according to the SEM images and statistical analysis data, it has been observed that effective mechanical cleaning before applying disinfection and sterilization to CPAP masks significantly eliminates biofilm formation and increases the effectiveness and efficiency of OPA chemical used for disinfection and hydrogen peroxide gas plasma, one of the sterilization methods.