Operating theatres are designed to ensure the operation site can be kept sterile (or perhaps more accurately, to minimise contamination from the external environment). Several features help with this. For example, the theatres are kept extremely clean, with frequent dusting and mopping. In most, the corners of the room are rounded to enable them to be cleaned easily. The air is filtered to remove bacteria–carrying particles, and flows in specific directions from the operating theatre outwards.

Scrubs

Special clothes, often known as ‘scrubs’ or ‘blues’, are worn in the operating theatre. Their main purpose is to decrease the transmission of micro–organisms, both from the staff to the patient, and vice–versa. Scrubs are provided by the hospital, and are usually found on racks either just inside or just outside the operating theatre's change–rooms. Like normal clothes, you simply wear your underwear beneath them. To prevent your normal street clothes from carrying dust and microorganisms into the operating theatres, you must change into scrubs before entering. In most operating theatre suites, there is a line clearly marked on the floor, beyond which you may not pass unless wearing scrubs, and the correct hat and footwear. Scrubs are usually blue or green in colour, because these colours are restful to the eye. Generally, the choice lies between overalls, or trousers and a shirt. Female change–rooms may also stock skirts and dresses. A wide range of sizes is usually provided. The size is usually marked on each garment, often on the ‘badge area’ of the chest. When you have worked out which size fits you best, try to remember it for next time.