Contamination of the surgical field

Is there sufficient evidence to suggest that the wearing of face masks is imperative during surgical procedures for maximum patient protection? Or is it just another ritual that needs to be re-examined in the light of today's emphasis on evidence-based medicine. Should we be re-educating theatre staff that the wearing face masks is more for their own protection than for that of the patient? To help us towards some conclusions, Peggy Edwards presents the results of her review of the literature on the face mask debate.