To prevent surgical site infection it is desirable to keep bacterial counts low in the operating room air during orthopedic surgery, especially prosthetic surgery. As the airborne bacteria are mainly derived from the skin flora of the personnel present in the operating room a reduction could be achieved by using a clothing system for staff made from a material fulfilling the requirements in the standard EN 13795. The aim of a study by Tammelin, et al. (2012) was to compare the protective capacity between three clothing systems made of different materials one mixed cotton/polyester and two polyesters - which all had passed the tests according to EN 13795.
Measuring of CFU/m3 air was performed during 21 orthopedic procedures performed in four operating rooms with turbulent, mixing ventilation with air flows of 755 1,050 L/s. All staff in the operating room wore clothes made from the same material during each surgical procedure.
The source strength (mean value of CFU emitted from one person per second) calculated for the three garments were 4.1, 2.4 and 0.6 respectively. In an operating room with an air flow of 755 L/s both clothing systems made of polyester reduced the amount of CFU/m3 significantly compared to the clothing system made from mixed material. In an operating room with air intake of 1,050 L/s a significant reduction was only achieved with the polyester that had the lowest source strength.
The researchers concluded that polyester has a better protective capacity than cotton/polyester. They say there is need for more discriminating tests of the protective efficacy of textile materials intended to use for operating garment. Their research was published in Patient Safety in Surgery. Â
Reference: Tammelin A, Ljungqvist B and Reinmüller B. Comparison of three distinct surgical clothing systems for protection from air-borne bacteria: A prospective observational study. Patient Safety in Surgery 2012, 6:23 doi:10.1186/1754-9493-6-23
Together We Rise: Why AORN Expo 2025 Is a Must for Every Perioperative Nurse
March 31st 2025From April 5 to 8, 2025, thousands of perioperative nurses will gather in Boston for the 2025 AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo—a transformational experience designed to elevate nursing practice, build lifelong connections, and advance surgical care.
The Guardians of Animal Health: Who Are Veterinary Infection Preventionists?
March 21st 2025Veterinary infection control experts Leslie Kollmann, BS, AAS, CVT, CIC, Denise Waiting, LVT, and Leslie Landis, LVT, BS, discuss challenges, zoonotic disease risks, and the importance of education, collaboration, and resource development in animal care facilities.
Unraveling a Candida auris Outbreak: Infection Control Challenges in a Burn ICU
March 19th 2025A Candida auris outbreak in a burn intensive care unit (BICU) in Illinois has highlighted the persistent challenges of infection control in high-risk health care settings. Despite rigorous containment efforts, this multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen continued to spread, underscoring the need for enhanced prevention strategies, environmental monitoring, and genomic surveillance.
Unmasking Long COVID: Dr Noah Greenspan on Recovery, Research Gaps, and the Future of Treatment
March 18th 2025Dr Noah Greenspan discusses the evolving understanding of long COVID, current treatment strategies, diagnostic challenges, and the critical need for research and awareness in post-viral syndromes.