Open AccessArticle
Evaluation of Air Contamination in Orthopaedic Operating Theatres in Hospitals in Southern Italy: The IMPACT Project
by
Maria Teresa Montagna, Serafina Rutigliano, Paolo Trerotoli, Christian Napoli, Francesca Apollonio, Alessandro D’Amico, Osvalda De Giglio, Giusy Diella, Marco Lopuzzo, Angelo Marzella, Simona Mascipinto, Chrysovalentinos Pousis, Roberto Albertini, Cesira Pasquarella, Daniela D’Alessandro, Gabriella Serio and Giuseppina Caggiano
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Abstract
Postoperative infections are a concern, especially in total knee and total hip arthroplasty. We evaluated the air quality in orthopaedic operating theatres in southeastern Italy to determine the level of bacterial contamination as a risk factor for postoperative infection. Thirty-five hospitals with operating
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Postoperative infections are a concern, especially in total knee and total hip arthroplasty. We evaluated the air quality in orthopaedic operating theatres in southeastern Italy to determine the level of bacterial contamination as a risk factor for postoperative infection. Thirty-five hospitals with operating theatres focused on total knee and total hip arthroplasty participated. We sampled the air passively and actively before surgeries began for the day (at rest) and 15 min after the surgical incision (
in operation). We evaluated bacterial counts, particle size, mixed vs turbulent airflow systems, the number of doors, number of door openings during procedures and number of people in the operating theatre. We found no bacterial contamination
at rest for all sampling methods, and significantly different contamination levels
at rest vs
in operation. We found no association between the number of people in the surgical team and bacteria counts for both mixed and turbulent airflow systems, and low bacterial loads, even when doors were always open. Overall, the air quality sampling method and type of ventilation system did not affect air quality.
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