title: Is laminar airflow necessary for prophylaxis against wound infection?
abstract: Abuse of an otherwise properly installed and maintained operating room system may result in rendering the environment unsatisfactory for critical types of surgery, especially when a patient's resistance is lowered by disease or drugs, or when a large foreign body is implanted. No type of special air-handling system will correct these abuses even though it may reduce ambient bioparticle counts. From all available valid evidence, the conclusion is drawn that laminar flow is less effective against wound infection than adherence to proper techniques and correction of abuses of the operating room environment by the surgical team and support personnel.
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D009873:Operating Rooms; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014691:Ventilation