title: Ultraviolet radiation compared to an ultra-clean air enclosure. Comparison of air bacteria counts in operating rooms.
abstract: Clean air in the operating room is important during joint replacement surgery. We compared monochromatic ultraviolet radiation of 254 nm with the use of a Charnley-Howorth air enclosure by bacterial air-sampling during 113 total hip arthroplasties. Air samples were taken continuously at the edge of the wound and every 15 minutes at a site 130 cm from the operating table. We also tested the effect of occlusive clothing for all personnel. Ultraviolet light was more efficient than the ultra-clean air enclosure, and occlusive clothing on its own or in combination also produced improvement. The implications of these findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, East Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoborn
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D006622:Hip Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D009873:Operating Rooms; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays