Operating room practices for the control of infection in U. S. hospitals, October 1976 to July 1977

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Infection Control
• Hospital Administration

Background:

• Operating room (OR) infection control practices are crucial for patient safety.
• Many perioperative routines lack rigorous scientific validation or budgetary review.
• Variations in practice can lead to suboptimal outcomes and increased costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the frequency of selected infection control practices in hospital operating rooms.
• To identify nonrecommended practices that have become routine.
• To understand the reasons behind variations in infection control practices.

Main Methods:

• Nationwide survey of hospitals to assess infection control practices.
• Data collection on the use of specific practices like disinfectant mats and environmental cultures.
• Inquiry into the rationale and cost associated with these practices.

Main Results:

• Nearly 50% of hospitals use nonrecommended disinfectant mats at OR entrances.
• Over 75% of hospitals perform nonrecommended environmental cultures, costing $2,000-$20,000 annually.
• Routine culturing of OR personnel lacks scientific rationale and shows significant inter-hospital variation.

Conclusions:

• Many infection control practices in operating rooms are not evidence-based.
• Nonrecommended practices are widespread, contributing to unnecessary costs.
• Lack of scientific consensus, industry influence, and individual preferences drive practice variations.