RISK OF AIRBORNE TRANSMISSION IN AN OPERATING-THEATER CONTAINING 4 ULTRACLEAN AIR UNITS

This study shows that a single, large, operating theatre (barn) contai ning four ultraclean operating units (cabins), was highly effective in reducing the number of airborne bacteria in the operating fields prov iding all occupied ultraclean cabins were functioning correctly. The a ir flows and bacterial counts during operations within the cabins met the current standard for ultraclean systems (HTM 2025 1994) and there was no evidence of mixing of air between cabins. It is, however, recom mended that air flows are regularly checked for compliance with the st andard. If failure occurs in any single ultraclean unit, surgery in th at cabin should cease as contaminated air may enter from the barn and surrounding cabins. Routine microbiological sampling should not be nec essary providing there is no evidence of filter leakage. An operating theatre with several ultraclean operating tables in a single room woul d appear to be a viable proposition for the future. Considerable savin gs are likely in revenue costs as much of the air is reused and suppor t services are shared.