Description
After this session you’ll be able to:
- Explain the mechanisms by which airborne contaminants are spread.
- Interpret quantitative measures of air quality in the operating room.
- Develop strategies for the control of air quality in the operating room.
Why this is important:
Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the third-most common class of hospital-acquired infections. A low concentration of viable bacteria in the operating room (OR) is known to be an important factor in preventing SSIs. The number of airborne particles increases with the number of people in the OR and with their movements and the number of door openings. Factors, such as this, that influence the level of airborne bacteria in hospital air require careful management. Join M. Bridget Kerr and STERIS Corporation to better understand how air quality in the OR critically depends on the air delivery and filtration system and characteristics of the air exchange in the OR. Kerr will outline the three airflow patterns (turbulent, horizontal laminar, vertical laminar) and how they can be delivered via a variety of technologies. You’ll leave with a better understanding of how to protect the sterile field from airborne bacterial contamination.
Sponsor(s):
