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MAY 19, 2025

Contaminated Saline, a Potential Source of Patient Pathogen Exposure

By Anna Tsioulias

Saline “flush” bags used to prepare anesthetic medications could be an underappreciated source of bacterial contamination that could potentially expose patients to pathogens, according to a presentation at the 2024 annual meeting of the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society.

The researchers found that Staphylococcus epidermidis, a common skin microbe that can contaminate medications during preparation, may persist in saline for more than 24