Comparison of three distinct clean air suits to decrease the bacterial load in the operating room: an observational...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare-associated infection control
• Surgical environment optimization
• Microbiology in clinical settings

Background:

• Operating room air quality is critical for preventing surgical site infections in joint replacement procedures.
• Reducing airborne bacteria relies on ventilation and minimizing skin particle shedding by personnel.
• Current methods include reusable clothing and laminar airflow systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of single-use polypropylene, reusable polyester, and reusable cotton/polyester clothing systems.
• To evaluate if these systems, with or without mobile laminar airflow, maintain optimal operating room air quality.
• To assess bacterial colony counts (CFU/m³) in relation to different surgical attire.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study involving 37 elective hip and knee arthroplasties.
• Air sampling for Colony Forming Units (CFU)/m³ using a Sartorius MD8 device.
• Comparison of three groups: reusable mixed material with laminar airflow, reusable olefin fabric, and single-use polypropylene suits.

Main Results:

• Single-use polypropylene suits achieved significantly lower CFU/m³ counts compared to both other systems.
• The study measured a total of 244 air samples across all procedures.
• Reusable mixed material suits with laminar airflow were also effective but less so than single-use polypropylene.

Conclusions:

• Single-use polypropylene clothing systems are a viable replacement for mobile laminar airflow-assisted reusable systems.
• Real-world operating room conditions present greater challenges than standardized laboratory settings.
• Implementing effective surgical attire is key to enhancing operating room air quality and infection control.