Airborne Nosocomial Infection: A Contemporary Perspective

Eickhoff, Theodore C.

doi:10.1086/646830

Cited by 52 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Transmission through injuries with contaminated devices and direct contact with tissue and contaminated fluids has been reported for bacterial agents such as Staphylococcus aureus [10] and viral agents like hepatitis B and C [4,5]. Transmission of organisms having an airborne phase in their route of dissemination has also been reported [1,11], with evidence for such transmissions of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, legionella, varicella-zoster, smallpox and influenza [2,4,9]. It can be concluded that there is a risk for health care workers in the operating room present during surgeries where aerosols are produced through highspeed milling or cutting devices.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aerosols produced by high-speed cutters in cervical spine surgery: extent of environmental contamination

et al. 2001

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High-speed cutters are used in the surgery of the cervical spine. Such high-speed devices can produce an aerosol cloud. As a patient can be a reservoir for pathogens, with aerosol-borne paths of transmission, such an aerosol has to be seen as a potential risk of infection for health care professionals present during the surgery and for patients if micro-organisms are transferred through the medical personnel. The study was performed in order to measure the extension of environmental and body contamination through contaminated aerosols produced by a high-speed cutter. Three laminectomies (C4-C6) were performed on an intact human cadaver with a high-speed 0.6-mm ball cutter. A complete surgical setup was arranged, including surgical draping and a barrier drape to the anesthesiologist's workplace. Body and environmental contamination was detected by the use of surveillance cultures. The irrigation solution was artificially contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 12600. Following the surgery, staphylococci were detected in the operating room at an extension of 5x7 m. Everybody showed extensive face and body contamination with Staphylococcus aureus. The study showed that the use of high-speed cutters in surgery of the cervical spine produces an aerosol cloud that is spread over the whole surgical room and contaminates the theater and all personnel present. Such aerosols can be contaminated with pathogens if the patient was infected or colonized. Therefore, sufficient protective measures have to be recommended for everyone present in the operating room during such surgeries. In addition, efficient disinfection of the room and all mobile equipment is necessary after each surgery involving high-speed cutting devices.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aerosols produced by high-speed cutters in cervical spine surgery: extent of environmental contamination

et al. 2001

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“…Second, most of the culturable particles collected in these ambient outdoor samples were probably fungal spores. Fungal spores, particularly Aspergillus spp., are important sources of airborne nosocomial infections during construction and renovation in and near healthcare facilities (Eickhoff, 1994). However, in healthcare settings and buildings with increased risk of biological attack, bacterial and viral particles may be of even greater concern.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collection of biological and non-biological particles by new and used filters made from glass and electrostatically charged synthetic fibers

Raynor¹,

Kim²,

Ramachandran³

et al. 2007

Indoor Air

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Electrostatically charged synthetic filters with high initial efficiency can frequently replace traditional fiberglass filters with lower efficiency in HVAC systems because properly designed synthetic filters offer less resistance to air flow. Although the efficiency of charged synthetic filters at collecting non-biological particles declined substantially with use, the efficiency of these filters at collecting biological particles remained steady. These findings suggest that the merits of electrostatically charged synthetic HVAC filters relative to fiberglass filters may be more pronounced if collection of biological particles is of primary concern.

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“…Although current infection control practices emphasize contact as the major mechanism for the spread of nosocomial infections, there continues to be an ongoing interest in airborne sources of infection in the hospital environment. These are primarily related to the spread of multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis, aerosol spread of saprophytic fungi in the transplant population, and the potential spread of multidrug‐resistant microorganisms in heath care facilities 11 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Airborne Particulates in the OR Environment

Edmiston¹,

Sinski²,

Seabrook³

et al. 1999

AORN Journal

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Intraoperative sampling of airborne particulates is rarely performed in the OR environment because of technical difficulties associated with sampling methodologies and because of the common belief that airborne contamination is infrequently associated with surgical site infections (SSIs). In this study, investigators recovered non-viable (i.e., lint) and viable (i.e., microorganisms) particulates during vascular surgery using a personal cascade impactor sampling device. The predominant nonviable particulates recovered during intraoperative sampling were wood pulp fibers from disposable gowns and drapes. Several potential nosocomial pathogens (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis) and other drug-resistant isolates frequently were recovered from an area adjacent to the surgical field. The widespread presence of airborne particulates during surgery suggests that further studies are warranted to assess the role these particles may play in the development of SSIs or in dissemination of nosocomial pathogens within the OR and hospital environment.

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Airborne Nosocomial Infection: A Contemporary Perspective

Cited by 52 publications

References 38 publications

Aerosols produced by high-speed cutters in cervical spine surgery: extent of environmental contamination

Aerosols produced by high-speed cutters in cervical spine surgery: extent of environmental contamination

Collection of biological and non-biological particles by new and used filters made from glass and electrostatically charged synthetic fibers

Airborne Particulates in the OR Environment

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