Door openings in the operating room are associated with increased environmental contamination

The effect of laminar air flow and door openings on operating room contamination.

We evaluate the association of laminar airflow (LAF) and OR traffic with intraoperative contamination rates. Two sterile basins were placed in each room during 81 cases, one inside and one outside the LAF. One Replicate Organism Detection and Counting (RODAC) plate from each basin was sent for culture at successive 30-minute intervals from incision time until wound closure. At successive 30-min...

Operating room pollution--or is it contamination?

Eyewear contamination levels in the operating room: infection risk.

We investigated eyewear contamination levels in the operating room to assess infection risk and inform protocol development. Microbial contamination after use was found in 37.7% of disposable and 94.9% of reusable eyewear pieces. After disinfection, 74.4% of reusable eyewear also cultured positive. Disposable eyewear may reduce intercase contamination risk. Reusable eyewear may carry ongoing bi...

Door Opening Affects Operating Room Pressure During Joint Arthroplasty.

Many resources are expended to ensure a sterile operating room environment. Efforts are made to prevent exposure of patients to personnel and to achieve positive room pressure to keep out airborne contaminants. Foot traffic into and out of the operating room during surgery can undermine these efforts. The authors investigated the number and duration of operating room door openings during hip an...

Environmental hygiene in the operating room: cleanliness, godliness, and reality.

Cleanliness becomes more important when godliness is unlikely (P.J. O’Rourke). “Environment” is defined by the New Oxford American Dictionary as “the surroundings or conditions in which a person lives or operates,” whereas hygiene is defined as “conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness.” Cleanliness is the state of being free...