Hospital patients are more susceptible to infection due to their weakened immune systems, and patients undergoing surgery are even more at risk to becoming infected because of the openings in their skin and the stress healing puts on a body. This is why it is so important for the hospital staff to ensure cleanliness and sanitation with the operating room air supply.
Making sure that surfaces and medical instruments are clean and sanitized is just one step that needs to be taken. Many infections are caused by airborne pathogens, and the air inside an operating theater is also possibly full of pathogens, unless specific steps have been taken to remove these risks. Unfortunately, many hospitals do not take these steps, or have become negligent in their routines for managing these risks.
One major feature that operating rooms needs to have is the use of positive pressure ventilation, in respect to the corridors and any adjacent areas to where surgery is performed. This helps to make sure that no infected air can be blown into the operating room, and that only clean and filtered air is present. The number of operating theaters that are supplied by a single air handling unit should be limited to the amount that be sufficiently supplied with enough air pressure to positively pressurize the room. These air handler units should also be routinely cleaned and maintained to ensure they are not failing and are providing enough airflow for all the operating rooms.
Another important issue to consider in the operating room is the temperature and humidity, which play an important role in staff and patient comfort, as well as safety and infection control. In low humidity there is a higher risk or electric sparks, so the humidity should remain around 30% to 60%. The operating room should also be at least 1ºC colder than the outer areas, which helps move air out of the operating room, instead of bringing air in, because the warmer air in the surrounding areas rises and the cooler air from the operating room moves to replace it.
People are a major source of contamination in the operating room air supply, and extra care should be taken to keep doors closed and prevent the unnecessary passage of equipment, staff, and the patient. Only people needed for the surgical procedure should be present, as the microbial level in the operating room is directly proportional to the number of people inside the room.
enTaB offers many infection control verification services to help you maintain your operating room air supply and keep your patients safe. Contact us now to find out how we can help.
