Clinical Issues-December 2021

Area of Science:

• Infection Control and Prevention
• Environmental Hygiene in Healthcare Settings
• Surgical Site Infection Prevention

Background:

• Operating rooms (ORs) can harbor mold, posing a risk of fungal infections, including invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, especially in immunocompromised patients such as those with neutropenia.
• Effective mold remediation in ORs is critical to prevent patient exposure and subsequent infections.
• Standardized protocols for surgical site preparation, including cesarean delivery, and environmental cleaning are essential for patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline key strategies for the removal and containment of mold in the OR environment.
• To discuss the importance of surgical skin antisepsis for cesarean deliveries.
• To evaluate the efficacy of premoistened, single-use mop pads for environmental cleaning in ambulatory surgery centers.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature and best practices for mold remediation, focusing on source identification, removal, and containment.
• Analysis of surgical skin antisepsis techniques for cesarean deliveries, including umbilicus preparation and incision site antisepsis.
• Assessment of the use of EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectant mop pads for between-procedure turnover in ambulatory surgery centers.

Main Results:

• Mold remediation requires a systematic approach to identify and eliminate sources, coupled with containment strategies to prevent spread.
• Proper surgical skin antisepsis, tailored to the surgical approach (e.g., transverse Pfannenstiel or vertical incision), is vital for cesarean deliveries.
• Commercially available premoistened mop pads offer an efficient and effective method for environmental cleaning between procedures.

Conclusions:

• Comprehensive mold removal and containment protocols are necessary to mitigate fungal infection risks in ORs.
• Adherence to evidence-based practices for surgical site preparation is crucial for preventing infections associated with cesarean deliveries.
• The use of EPA-registered disinfectant mop pads facilitates effective environmental cleaning in ambulatory surgery centers, contributing to a safer patient environment.