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Environmental Surface Hygiene in the OR : Strategies for Reducing the Transmission of Health Care–Associated Infections
Author(s) -
Branch Russ,
Amiri Azita
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
aorn journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1878-0369
pISSN - 0001-2092
DOI - 10.1002/aorn.13175
Subject(s) - hygiene , medicine , transmission (telecommunications) , perioperative , intensive care medicine , pulse oximetry , health care , medical emergency , infection control , emergency medicine , environmental health , surgery , anesthesia , pathology , electrical engineering , engineering , economics , economic growth
Health care–associated infections ( HAI s) cost billions of dollars annually in the United States and cause patient morbidity and mortality. There is increasing evidence that environmental surfaces in the OR setting, including anesthesia work areas, can harbor pathogens that can lead to HAI s. Patient‐care equipment used routinely in the OR , such as electrocardiograph wires, blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximetry probes, and monitor cables, can become contaminated with pathogens during surgical procedures; without proper cleaning and disinfection between procedures, these items pose a risk for pathogen transmission and subsequent patient infections. This article discusses the association between contaminated surfaces in the OR and the risk for HAI s. It is essential that perioperative nurses, environmental services personnel, anesthesia technicians, and anesthesia professionals properly disinfect environmental surfaces to prevent HAI s.