The use of a bacterial filter protects patient, family members and caregivers from breathing in illness-causing particles. Filters trap bacteria and virus that may be exhaled by the ventilated patient so they don��t become airborne and contaminate others in the household. They also protect the ventilated patient by filtering the air that circulates in the ventilator, blocking infectious particles that could potentially be in the environment, reducing the risk of the already vulnerable patient from catching a respiratory illness.

Filters also work to block the secretions of the ventilated patient from getting into the device and contaminating the system.

There are two types of ventilator filters: electrostatic or mechanical.

Electrostatic filters are made of fibers that have a bipolar �� that is, a positive and negative �� electrical charge, which attract and trap viral and bacterial particles.

Mechanical filters have a multilayered, pleated filtration medium. As virus and bacteria pass through the filter medium, larger particles are trapped and contained on the outer surfaces. Smaller particles are trapped deeper within the filtration medium.