Operating Room Air May Harbor Pathogens: The Role of An Ultraviolet Air Filtration Unit.

Abstract

Abstract Prevention of surgical site infections involves implementation of numerous steps including ultraclean air in the operating room (OR). We conducted this prospective study to determine and compare the nature and quantity of microbes in the OR, as detected from the inlet and outlet flow of an ultraviolet filtration unit. To do so, a filtration unit with a crystalline ultraviolet unit (C-UVC) was placed in the OR. The inflow and outflow air from the unit was sampled at the beginning and at conclusion of each surgical procedure. We recorded surgical-related variables and processed the air swabs for culture and Next-Generation Sequencing. The mean length of the surgical procedures sampled was 68±13 minutes. Overall, 19 out of 200 (9.5%) swabs isolated microorganisms. Inflow swabs were positive at a higher rate (16% vs. 3%; p<0.01), compared to the outflow air swabs. A wide variety of Gram-positive, Gram-negative, anaerobic bacteria, and fungi were isolated. The detection of microorganisms was higher in light of a higher number of door openings (32.5±7.1 vs. 27.9±5.6; p<0.01). Our study showed that microorganisms are present in the OR. Moreover, a specialized filtration unit with a C-UVC light was effective in filtering these microorganisms in the majority of cases.