Risk of airborne transmission in an operating theatre containing four ultraclean air units

This study shows that a single, large, operating theatre (barn) containing four ultraclean operating units (cabins), was highly effective in reducing the number of airborne bacteria in the operating fields providing all occupied ultraclean cabins were functioning correctly. The air flows and bacterial counts during operations within the cabins met the current standard for ultraclean systems (HTM 2025 1994) and there was no evidence of mixing of air between cabins. It is, however, recommended that air flows are regularly checked for compliance with the standard. If failure occurs in any single ultraclean unit, surgery in that cabin should cease as contaminated air may enter from the barn and surrounding cabins. Routine microbiological sampling should not be necessary providing there is no evidence of filter leakage. An operating theatre with several ultraclean operating tables in a single room would appear to be a viable proposition for the future. Considerable savings are likely in revenue costs as much of the air is reused and support services are shared.