Comparison of airborne bacteria in rooms with turbulent mixing ventilation vs unidirectional airflow during the preparation of surgical instruments – an experimental study
E. Torbjörnsson , C. Olivecrona , A. Lööf Ngo , A. Tammelin
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Surgical instruments could act as carriers of pathogens causing surgical site infections. Different types of ventilation systems in operating theatres are used to prevent contamination of sterile fields and instruments by airborne bacteria. The results are inconclusive concerning which ventilation system creates the best conditions.
Aim
To investigate levels of airborne bacteria during the preparation of surgical instruments in preparation rooms with turbulent mixing ventilation (TMV) and unidirectional airflow (UDAF).
Methods
This study was conducted in a newly built operating theatre at Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden. Colony-forming units (CFU)/m3 were measured in a preparation room with TMV with an intake of air of either 700 L/s or 1200 L/s, and a preparation room with UDAF with an intake of air of 700 L/s.
Findings
Mean CFU/m3 air ranged from 0 to 104.5 in the preparation room with TMV and airflow of 700 L/s. When airflow was adjusted to 1200 L/s, mean CFU/m3 air ranged from 0 to 5.5. In the preparation room with UDAF, mean CFU/m3 air ranged from 0 to 7. With airflow of 700 L/s, the difference between the two rooms was significant (P<0.006). When the airflow in the preparation room with TMV was increased to 1200 L/s, there was no significant difference between TMV and UDAF (P=0.443).
Conclusion
This experimental study of the differences in levels of airborne bacteria in preparation rooms during preparation of surgical instruments showed that, with airflow of 700 L/s, the preparation room with UDAF had significantly lower CFU/m3 air than the preparation room with TMV.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Hospital Infection is the editorially independent scientific publication of the Healthcare Infection Society. The aim of the Journal is to publish high quality research and information relating to infection prevention and control that is relevant to an international audience.
The Journal welcomes submissions that relate to all aspects of infection prevention and control in healthcare settings. This includes submissions that:
provide new insight into the epidemiology, surveillance, or prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance in healthcare settings;
provide new insight into cleaning, disinfection and decontamination;
provide new insight into the design of healthcare premises;
describe novel aspects of outbreaks of infection;
throw light on techniques for effective antimicrobial stewardship;
describe novel techniques (laboratory-based or point of care) for the detection of infection or antimicrobial resistance in the healthcare setting, particularly if these can be used to facilitate infection prevention and control;
improve understanding of the motivations of safe healthcare behaviour, or describe techniques for achieving behavioural and cultural change;
improve understanding of the use of IT systems in infection surveillance and prevention and control.