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Prevention of airborne infection during surgery
Abstract:
Clinical trials carried out in Britain, Europe, and the United States have confirmed that between 80 and 90% of bacterial contaminants found in the wound after surgery come from colony forming units (cfu) present in the air of the operating theatre. When the numbers of cfu are reduced, there is a corresponding reduction in the incidence of would sepsis. The sources, concentration, and movement of airborne cfu during an operation are identified, and various ways of reducing their numbers are reviewed. Only reduction of cfu in the operating zone to less than 1/m3, by means of an exponentially curved flow of microbiologically clean air, together with a total body exhaust system worn by the members of the surgical team and the patient, provides aseptic conditions without imposing restrictions or changes in surgical procedure.
Insights
Airborne bacteria, or colony forming units (cfu), in operating rooms cause most surgical wound infections. Reducing airborne cfu to below 1/m³ with specialized airflow and exhaust systems creates aseptic conditions.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Infection Prevention
- Environmental Microbiology
- Hospital Hygiene
Background:
- 80-90% of post-surgical wound bacterial contaminants originate from airborne colony forming units (cfu) in operating theatres.
- Reducing airborne cfu levels correlates directly with a decreased incidence of surgical wound sepsis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify sources, concentration, and movement of airborne cfu during surgical procedures.
- To review methods for reducing airborne cfu in operating rooms.
- To determine the most effective method for achieving aseptic conditions during surgery.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of clinical trial data from Britain, Europe, and the United States.
- Identification of airborne cfu sources, concentration, and movement patterns.
- Review of various airborne cfu reduction strategies.
Main Results:
- Airborne cfu are the primary source of surgical wound contamination.
- Lowering airborne cfu numbers reduces surgical site infections.
- A specific method involving microbiologically clean air with an exponentially curved flow and a total body exhaust system was identified as optimal.
Conclusions:
- Achieving aseptic conditions in the operating theatre requires reducing airborne colony forming units (cfu) to less than 1 per cubic meter.
- An exponentially curved flow of microbiologically clean air combined with a total body exhaust system for the surgical team and patient is essential.
- This method provides aseptic conditions without altering surgical procedures.