Guidelines in Practice: Surgical Attire

Area of Science:

• Healthcare infection control
• Surgical safety protocols

Background:

• Surgical attire acts as a barrier against microorganism transmission from healthcare workers.
• Existing guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for surgical attire selection, use, and laundering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss key recommendations from the AORN "Guideline for surgical attire."
• To highlight aspects of laundering, long-sleeved attire, and head coverings.
• To provide a framework for implementing guideline changes through gap and risk assessments.

Main Methods:

• Review of the AORN "Guideline for surgical attire."
• Discussion of recommendations based on evidence level, benefit-harm assessment, and resource considerations.
• Presentation of a scenario for interdisciplinary team implementation.

Main Results:

• Recommendations are categorized by evidence level (Regulatory Requirement, Recommendation, Conditional Recommendation, No Recommendation).
• Specific focus on laundering practices, long-sleeved attire, and head coverings.
• A gap analysis and risk assessment approach is suggested for policy updates.

Conclusions:

• Adherence to the AORN guideline is crucial for optimizing surgical attire practices.
• Implementation requires interdisciplinary collaboration and strategic planning.
• The guideline provides comprehensive guidance for perioperative personnel to ensure patient safety.