Compressed air, forced through the outer tube, creates negative pressure at the tip. This sucks fluid out of the medication reservoir into the inner tube and out the tip. When airflow ceases the fluid column collapses. Contaminants on the tip are thus aspirated into both tubes and potentially into the medication reservoir.1-4
1. Coakley JF, Arthurs GJ, Wilsher TK. The need for and development of a single use disposable nasal spray. J Laryngol Otol 1993; 107:20-3.
2. Southwick KL, Hoffmann K, Ferree K, Matthews J, Salfinger M. Cluster of tuberculosis cases in North Carolina: possible association with atomizer reuse. Am J Infect Control 2001; 29:1-6.
3. Spraggs PD, Hanekom WH, Mochloulis G, Joseph T, Kelsey MC. The assessment of the risk of cross-infection with a multi-use nasal atomizer. J Hosp Infect 1994; 28:315-21.
4. Wolfe TR, Bossart PJ, Hillman TA. The comparative risks of bacterial contamination between a Venturi atomizer and a hydraulic compression atomizer. Abstract presented at the 47th annual American Rhinologic Society conference, Denver Colorado, Sept 2001.