title: Directed air flow to reduce airborne particulate and bacterial contamination in the surgical field during total hip arthroplasty.
abstract: This study evaluated the use of a system that delivers a small field of local, directed air from a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to reduce airborne particulate and airborne bacteria in the surgical field during total hip arthroplasty. Thirty-six patients were randomized into 3 groups: with directed air flow, with the directed air flow system present but turned off, and control. Airborne particulate and bacteria were collected from within 5 cm of the surgical wound. All particulate and bacterial counts at the surgical site were significantly lower in the directed air flow group (P < .001). The directed air flow system was effective in reducing airborne particulate and colony-forming units in the surgical field during total hip arthroplasty.
authors.affiliation: Fondren Orthopedic Group, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Stocks
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Sean D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Self
authors.forename: Geoff A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Marcek
authors.forename: Brandon L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000517:prevention & control; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009873:Operating Rooms; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014691:Ventilation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter