Traffic flow and microbial air contamination in operating rooms at a major teaching hospital in Ghana

M. T. Stauning, A. Bediako-Bowan, L. P. Andersen, J. A. Opintan, A. K. Labi, J. A.L. Kurtzhals*, S. Bjerrum

*Corresponding author for this work
17 Citations (Scopus)
82 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Current literature examining the relationship between door-opening rate, number of people present, and microbial air contamination in the operating room is limited. Studies are especially needed from low- and middle-income countries, where the risk of surgical site infections is high. Aim: To assess microbial air contamination in operating rooms at a Ghanaian teaching hospital and the association with door-openings and number of people present. Moreover, we aimed to document reasons for door-opening. Methods: We conducted active air-sampling using an MAS 100® portable impactor during 124 clean or clean-contaminated elective surgical procedures. The number of people present, door-opening rate and the reasons for each door-opening were recorded by direct observation using pretested structured observation forms. Findings: During surgery, the mean number of colony-forming units (cfu) was 328 cfu/m3 air, and 429 (84%) of 510 samples exceeded a recommended level of 180 cfu/m3. Of 6717 door-openings recorded, 77% were considered unnecessary. Levels of cfu/m3 were strongly correlated with the number of people present (P = 0.001) and with the number of door-openings/h (P = 0.02). In empty operating rooms, the mean cfu count was 39 cfu/m3 after 1 h of uninterrupted ventilation and 52 (51%) of 102 samples exceeded a recommended level of 35 cfu/m3. Conclusion: The study revealed high values of intraoperative airborne cfu exceeding recommended levels. Minimizing the number of door-openings and people present during surgery could be an effective strategy to reduce microbial air contamination in low- and middle-income settings.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Hospital Infection
Volume99
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)263-270
Number of pages8
ISSN0195-6701
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2018

Keywords

  • Airborne bacteria
  • Infection control
  • Low- and middle-income countries
  • Operating rooms
  • Staff behaviour
  • Traffic flow
  • Air Microbiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Ghana
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Health Personnel
  • Hospitals, Teaching
  • Operating Rooms
  • Female

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