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Occlusive Scrub Suits in Operating Theaters During Cataract Surgery: Effect on Airborne Contamination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Bjørg Marit Andersen*
Affiliation:
Clinic of Preventive Medicine, Department of Hospital Infections, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
Nette Solheim
Affiliation:
Clinic of Preventive Medicine, Department of Hospital Infections, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
*
Department of Hospital Infections, Clinic for Preventive Medicine, Ullevål University Hospital, 0407 Oslo, Norway

Abstract

The effect of wearing occlusive scrub suits on bacterial contamination of air was studied during cataract operations. All personnel regularly wore cotton scrub suits. During the intervention period, all wore occlusive scrub suits, which, compared with cotton scrub suits, were associated with more than a 50% reduction in the load of airborne bacteria during operations.

Type
Concise Communications
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2002

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