Yankauer Catheter Replacement Schedule: Infection Control Protocol
How often should a Yankauer catheter be replaced?
The Quick Answer
Yankauer tips should be **replaced daily** in clinical settings or immediately when visibly soiled. Tubing connecting to wall suction may be changed **weekly** if not contaminated. For home care, replace after each use if single-patient dedicated equipment isn't available. Never reuse Yankauer tips between patients—strict single-patient use prevents cross-contamination of respiratory pathogens.
Why We Ask This
Facilities extend Yankauer use beyond recommended intervals to reduce supply costs, inadvertently creating reservoirs for pathogen transmission—particularly dangerous for immunocompromised patients exposed to equipment harboring *Pseudomonas* or MRSA from prior users.
The Practical Science
Biofilm formation begins within 24 hours on moist plastic surfaces. Studies show bacterial counts on multi-day Yankauer tips exceed 10⁵ CFU/cm²—sufficient to cause infection in vulnerable hosts. Daily replacement disrupts biofilm maturation cycles.
In Clinical Practice
In a skilled nursing facility, each resident receives a color-coded, dedicated Yankauer tip changed every morning during routine care. Tubing connecting multiple resident stations gets replaced weekly with terminal cleaning—balancing infection control with practical resource management.
References & Context
Oral suctioning - NHS Children's Health"Check the tubing and the yankauer sucker. The tubing can be replaced weekly or when dirty and yankauer suckers are replaced daily. Ensure the charger and transducer are available. If using a Clario machine set the pressure to a minimum."