Ventilators often run with a heated humidification system. The circuit will collect enough water that it has to be drained. Patients are coughing all sorts of gross crud into the tubing. The circuit also gets broken from time to time, as stuff gets soiled or clogged, parts need to get changed out. So there's often opportunity for bugs to get in there.
bringmeadamnjuicebox t1_j8j6w9f wrote
Reply to What do bacteria living in mechanical ventilation feed on ? by malahchi
Ventilators often run with a heated humidification system. The circuit will collect enough water that it has to be drained. Patients are coughing all sorts of gross crud into the tubing. The circuit also gets broken from time to time, as stuff gets soiled or clogged, parts need to get changed out. So there's often opportunity for bugs to get in there.