Infectious Disease Considerations for the Operating Room

The risk of blood-borne infections in Poland – opportunities and threats to public health, nationwide qualitative research

“…Despite medical development, blood-borne infections is still a problem of concern to the World Health Organization (WHO) [1]. Blood can be a source of various additional antigens, including pathogens [2,3], as well as past medicinal products which might be a source of infection [4]. It has been proved that blood-borne infections are often etiologically associated with HBV, HCV, HDV, and HIV [5].…”

Strengths and Weaknesses in the Risk Management of Blood-Borne Infections: Qualitative Research in Public Health

“…Despite progress in the diagnosis and treatment of blood-borne infections, data from the World Health Organization (WHO) demonstrate that the problem is still significant [2]. Our familiarity with the mechanisms of blood-borne infections-the well-known pathogens, sources of infections, and pathways through which infections can spread [3][4][5] and the established microbiological etiology of blood-borne infections (HBV-Hepatitis B Virus, HCV-Hepatitis C Virus, HDV-Hepatitis D Virus, and HIV-Human Immunodeficiency Virus) [6]-sometimes leads us to underestimate the problem [7]. According to research on viral pathogen analyses, the risk of blood-borne infections (expressed as a pooled transmission rate) was largest for HBV (1.45%), followed by HCV (0.46%) and HIV (0.0056%) [8,9].…”

Contamination of equipment and surfaces in the operating room anesthesia workspace: a cross-sectional study

“…This is of particular concern as eliminating multidrug-resistant microorganisms from these surfaces is a key strategy to mitigate the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) that significantly contribute to morbidity, mortality, and extended hospital stays. [2][3][4][5] The existing [3][4][5][6] cleaning practices in operating rooms and anesthesia work areas are inadequate; therefore, environmental surfaces remain contaminated. Removing multidrug-resistant microorganisms from operating room surfaces is essential to minimizing the risk of HAIs.Furthermore, HAIs contribute to major public health problems by increasing morbidity and mortality rates and prolonging the hospitalization time of patients.…”

“…Removing multidrug-resistant microorganisms from operating room surfaces is essential to minimizing the risk of HAIs.Furthermore, HAIs contribute to major public health problems by increasing morbidity and mortality rates and prolonging the hospitalization time of patients. [1][2][3][4][5] In particular, surgical patients with open wounds are at a higher risk; 6 therefore, the potential for cross-transmission in the intraoperative environment poses a threat to patient safety. 7Contamination in the anesthesia work area, including the anesthesia cart, faucets, laryngeal masks, laryngoscope blades, touchscreens, keyboards, and the hands of professionals, can result in the transmission of infections that promote health risks, highlighting pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation (PAVM).…”

“…7Contamination in the anesthesia work area, including the anesthesia cart, faucets, laryngeal masks, laryngoscope blades, touchscreens, keyboards, and the hands of professionals, can result in the transmission of infections that promote health risks, highlighting pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation (PAVM). [1][2][3][4]8 Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is characterized as an infectious disease with an imprecise diagnosis and multiple causes, which allows divergent recommendations related to preventive measures, diagnosis, and treatment. [9][10][11] Because 24 h of intubation in invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) favor the colonization of microorganisms in the lower airways, orotracheal…”