Operating room architecture is not a risk factor for surgical site infections

Abstract

Surgical site infection (SSI) may cause a substantial burden for patients and healthcare systems. A potential risk of different architectures of the operating room for SSI is yet unknown and was subject of this study. This observational cohort study was performed in a university hospital and evaluated patients, who underwent a broad spectrum of orthopedic surgeries in 2016 (open-plan operating room architecture) versus (vs) 2017 (closed-plan operating room architecture). Patients, who underwent surgery in the transition time period from the open-plan to the closed-plan operating room architecture and those, who were treated e.g. for osteomyelitis as index procedure were excluded. The primary outcome was revision surgery for early SSI within 30 (superficial) or 90 (deep or organ/space) days of surgery. Age, gender, American society of anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, and the body mass index (BMI) were considered as potential interacting factors in a logistic regression analysis. The incidence of revisions for SSI was 0.6 percent (%) (n = 45) in the 7'740 included surgical cases (mean age of 52 (standard deviation (SD) 19) years; n = 3'835 (50%) females). There was no difference in incidences of revision for SSI in the open- vs closed-plan operating room architecture (0.5% vs 0.7%; adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.34 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72–2.49, P = 0.35)). Age and gender were not a risk factor for revision for SSI. However, ASA classification and BMI were identified as risk factors for the incidence of revision for SSI (OR = 1.92 (95% CI 1.16- 3.18, P = 0.01) and OR = 1.05 (95% CI 1.00–1.11, P = 0.05)). The overall incidence of revisions for early SSI after a broad spectrum of orthopedic surgeries was relatively low (0.6%) and independent from the operating room architecture. An increase in ASA classification and possibly BMI, however, were identified as independent risk factors for revision for SSI.

Systematic study on the relationship between particulate matter and microbial counts in hospital operating rooms

“…According to the Environmental Monitoring of Clean Rooms Standard ( 2012 ) of the World Health Organization and Policies and Procedures on Infection Control Standard (2010) of the Ministry of Health Malaysia, the total microbial count in the cleanroom consists of bacteria and fungi only. Previous studies identified that the contraction of SSIs by patients was due to the settlement of bacteria of their wounds (Carvalho et al 2017 ; Jentzsch et al 2021 ). To the best of the author’s knowledge, none of the studies reported the presence of a virus (which are also microbes) in an OR.…”

Preventing Surgical Site Infections in the Era of Escalating Antibiotic Resistance and Antibiotic Stewardship

“…A number of complementary, nonantibiotic strategies exist to facilitate the same objective of SSI prevention served by antibiotics. Given anticipated increases in SSIs caused by bacteria resistant to standard prophylactic agents and the diminishing marginal returns of efforts to further sterilize the operating room environment, these alternative evidence-based strategies represent “win-win” practices that should be more consistently emphasized.…”

Association of Operative Time with SSI in elderly patients with colon cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…SSI often manifests as incisional redness, swelling, pus, and wound dehiscence and even results in surgical treatment failure (14). SSI not only brings unnecessary pain to patients but also causes a lot of medical resources waste and increases patients' economic burden (15)(16)(17). Therefore, postoperative risk factors of colon cancer in elderly patients deserve joint attention from physicians.…”