[Requirements for ambulatory operations from the point of view of hygienists]

Not least because of possible cost reduction ambulatory operations are being performed increasingly in hospitals and in accordingly equipped surgical practices. From the hygienic point of view infection control is just as important as with inpatients, i.e. requirement have to be the same in principle. This applies to constructional requirements, i.e. structure of operation areas including technical equipment and ventilation system, as well as to organizational requirements. On the other hand particularly operations in surgical practices have special features that have to be taken into account. One has to consider several factors like the lower probability of patients to be colonized by hospital specific bacteria, the as a rule relatively low number of operations and the small group of persons involved with operations, so that often staff discipline can be improved more easily than in big hospitals. Problems can arise with the supply of sterile goods, as facilities comparable to those of sterilization centers in hospitals are usually lacking. In these particular cases hygienically perfect solutions that consider all special features of a practice should be sought in cooperation with a hygienist.