Bacterial dispersion in relation to operating room clothing

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infection Control
• Surgical Safety

Background:

• Operating room attire significantly impacts bacterial dispersal.
• Understanding clothing's role is vital for preventing surgical site infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of different surgical gowns and trousers in reducing bacterial particle dispersal.
• To compare clothing performance in simulated conventional and ultra-clean (laminar flow) operating environments.

Main Methods:

• Bacterial dispersal was measured in a chamber simulating different ventilation systems.
• Six gown types (cotton, disposable non-woven, total-body exhaust) and four trouser types were tested.
• Real-world validation was performed in a unidirectional-flow operating room during hip arthroplasty.

Main Results:

• Disposable gowns reduced dispersal by 30-65%, while total-body exhaust suits reduced it by 10-66 fold.
• Impervious trousers (Ventile, non-woven) reduced bacterial dispersion fourfold.
• Chamber results correlated well with operating room findings, though total-body exhaust suits performed less effectively in vivo.

Conclusions:

• Surgical clothing choice critically influences bacterial dispersal.
• Disposable gowns and impervious trousers offer significant improvements in infection control.
• Total-body exhaust systems show high efficacy but may be influenced by factors like patient contribution in real-world settings.