Recommendations for renovating an operating theater at an emergency obstetric care facility

Abstract

The importance of emergency obstetric care (EmOC) in reducing maternal mortality has focused attention on both the skills of the clinicians to provide high quality care and on the health facilities in which the care is provided. Essential elements of EmOC include the capacity to perform cesarean sections for which an operating theater is needed. This article focuses on renovation of existing operating theaters to meet the necessary standards. While building, adding to, or renovating operating theaters can be expensive, this article emphasizes appropriate materials that are likely to be locally available and relatively inexpensive. The importance of proper maintenance is discussed.

Floor finish selection in the design of healthcare facilities: a survey of facility managers

“…For operating theaters, where hygiene is of paramount importance, flooring types should be seamless, hard and easy to clean. They should withstand strong germicidal and cleaning agents because floors in such areas undergo daily washing with such solutions (Abreu and Potter, 2001). In the past, research has been conducted examining the application of floor finish materials with intrinsic antibacterial activity to help control contamination in clinical areas such as intensive care units (ICUs) that accommodate high-risk patients (O’Connell and Humphreys, 2000).…”

Wall Finish Selection in Hospital Design: A Survey of Facility Managers

“…The wall finishes of a surgery unit should be (a) hard; (b) nonporous; (c) free from joints and crevices; (d) easy to wash; and (e) able to withstand repeated contact with strong cleaning agents (Abreu & Potter, 2001; Fogg, 1999). Walls with ceramic tiles are not recommended in surgery units because the joints are difficult to clean, nonresistant to wear, and not durable.…”

“…Lime wash (lime putty) is unsuitable for any wall surfaces in operating rooms because it is water soluble and therefore dissolves when washed. Cement paint also is inappropriate for surgery units because its rough finish easily harbors dirt and therefore makes cleaning difficult (Abreu & Potter, 2001). Latex paint (Bentley & Turner, 1997) and vinyl (Jacob, 2006) are suitable for use in surgery units.…”

A tool for assessing ‘readiness’ in emergency obstetric care: The room‐by‐room ‘walk‐through’

“…What may differ from facility to facility is the design of the physical layout. It should be noted that physical layout can inhibit or enhance the quality of EmOC [5] and a review of the physical layout, though beyond the scope of this paper, is recommended. In any case, the path followed by any individual woman may vary based on her condition(s), but all paths should be functional and ready.…”