Use of light handles in the laminar flow operating theatre - is it a causeof bacterial concern?

Airborne bacteria introduced during routine joint replacement surgery are k nown to be an important source of joint sepsis with disastrous results. Rec ently, Robinson et al. [Robinson AHN, Bentley G, Drew S, Anderson J, Ridgwa y GL. Suction tip contamination in the ultraclean air operating theatre. An n R Coll Surg Engl 1993; 75: 254-6] have demonstrated that the conventional surgical sucker forms a focus for airborne pathogens which results in sept ic loosening of hip prostheses. Similarly, the potential contamination of t heatre light handles, commonly used during total hip and knee replacements, gives cause for concern. To assess if there was any evidence of contaminat ion, we cultured bacterial swabs taken from the light handles before and af ter 15 such procedures, all of which were held in a conventional orthopaedi c operating theatre. Fortunately, our study found no reason to stop the use of light handles in joint replacement operations.