The effect of mechanical ventilation and clothing on airborne microbes and wound sepsis in hospital operating rooms, Part 1

This article is the first part of a review of investigations carried out until about 1990 into the role of mechanical ventilation in reducing wound sepsis in hospitals. It deals with the design of mechanical ventilation systems to reduce airborne microbe-carrying particles (MCPs), and mainly discusses unidirectional airflow (UDAF) systems. The second part will deal with the effect of mechanical ventilation and occlusive clothing in operating rooms in reducing airborne MCPs and post-operative wound sepsis.