Divided responsibilities for operating room asepsis: The dilemma of technology

Asepsis and concern for patient safety in the operating room are team responsibilities involving nurses, surgeons, and anesthesiologists. Meaningless rituals now being observed in the OR must be replaced by practices and procedures based on sound principles of aseptic technique. Modern instrumentation and technology, though relieving the surgeon and anesthesiologist of many of the manual tasks which once occupied them, have not solved the problems of infection control in the operating suite. Apathy, carelessness, and indifference may even increase as a by-product of technology, unless curbed by moral, ethical and legal constraints. Asepsis is not a static concept. Operating room policies and procedures need constant review and reexamination. Enforcement of these policies and rules to maintain good aseptic technique requires the cooperation of all who enter the OR suite.