OT-CC 13.0 INFECTION CONTROL
Under normal circumstances low-flow oxygen systems without humidifiers do not present a clinically important risk of infection and need not be routinely replaced. High-now systems that employ heated humidifiers or aerosol generators particularly when applied to patients with artificial airways, can be important sources of infection and should be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis, although there are no definitive studies regarding the frequency of tube changes at home or in long-term care facilities.