Page 106 - policy and procedure infection control

Policies and Procedures on Infection Control

3. There must be no more than 1 colony-forming unit/m³ when the theatre is empty with
the air-flow system running. There should be no more than 10 colony - forming unit/m³
over the operating table and no more than 20 colony-forming at the corners of the room

6.3.8 Type of Air supplied to the operating theatre
1. Plenum Ventilation
This is the most frequently used system in general purpose operating rooms.
2. Laminar Flow Ventilation (Ultra Clean Ventilation)

This system is unidirectional and delivers air flow over the operating table of 300ACH.
3. Wall Mounted Air Conditioners:
These are installed in some tropical countries more for comfort than for clean air
delivery. They should not be used as air delivery systems. The units are usually
mounted on the hot outside wall and the air is directed down and back onto the unit
itself (towards the wall). The operating table does not receive any significant air
changes and the bacterial counts remain unaffected.
4. Free-standing Air Conditioners:
These are cooling units with no filtration of air and therefore do not fulfill the criteria
for air delivery systems, especially for an OT.
Plenum and laminar flow ventilation is preferred in OT, the wall mounted air conditioners
and free standing air conditioners are not preferred.

6.3.9. Protective Clothing for Use in the Operating Theatre

The use of barriers minimizes a patient’s exposure to microorganisms that might be
shed from the skin, mucous membranes, or hair of surgical team members as well as
protects surgical team members from exposure to blood and to blood-borne pathogens.
1. Theatre attire should include such as items as sterile gloves, caps, masks, gowns
or waterproof aprons, and protective eyewear.
2. All personnel entering the operation theatre should have good personal hygiene e.g:.
Bath and Shampoo. All personnel should change to new scrub suite which is ‘lint
free’ before entering the theatre.
3. The operation theatre should have specific written policy and procedure for proper
attire to be worn. The attire should be changed if wet or grossly soiled.
4. Cap is worn to protect gross contamination from hair during procedures. The cap
worn should not be less than 40 grams of weight.

5. Change footwear before entering operation theatre area. Footwear should comfortable,
supportive, able to minimize fatigue and provide personnel safety.
6. A single disposable 3-ply surgical mask to be worn in restricted are which is 95%
efficient in filtering microbes from droplet particles in exhalation and also filter
inhalation. Fluid resistant mask is an advantage. Change mask when necessary
when wet or after it has been removed for other purposes.

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