title: Evaluation of bacterial contamination on surgical drapes following use of the Bair Hugger(®) forced air warming system.
abstract: This pilot study determined the rate of bacterial contamination on surgical drapes of small animal patients warmed intra-operatively with the Bair Hugger(®) forced air warming system compared to a control method. Surgical drapes of 100 patients undergoing clean surgical procedures were swabbed with aerobic culturettes at the beginning and end of surgery. Samples were cultured on Trypticase soy agar. Contamination of the surgical drapes was identified in 6/98 cases (6.1%). There was no significant difference in the number of contaminated surgical drapes between the Bair Hugger(®) and control groups (P = 0.47).
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Specialists of Rochester, 825 White Spruce Blvd., Rochester, New York 14623, USA (Occhipinti, Greco); Michigan State University, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA (Hauptman); Hope Veterinary Specialists, 40 Three Tun Road, Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355, USA (Mehler).
authors.forename: Lindsay L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Occhipinti
authors.forename: Joe G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hauptman
authors.forename: Justin J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mehler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006361:Heating / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013522:Surgery, Veterinary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D058636:Surgical Drapes / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*