Utilization of electronic air filtration in improving air quality in operating rooms and reducing rates of surgical site infections (SSIs) in Pediatric Surgery department, Ain Shams University

Abstract

T his study aimed at assessing the air quality in operating room of Pediatric Surgery department, Ain Shams University; developing and implementing a surveillance system to decrease surgical site infections (SSIs) rates and assessment of the effectiveness of electronic air filtration (A novel air filtration device) in improving air quality in operating rooms Poor ISO classification of pediatric surgery OR could be attributed to the old central air conditioning system and flowing of air in an uncontrolled manner in addition to direction changes, in spite of the fact that there is HEPA filter installed. But after intervention with GENANO device, the operation room moved up to (ISO 6) which is a breakthrough despite the fact that we weren't able to connect all operating theatre air inlets with Genano filtration devices, so the Genano system could not work with its full capacity. Hospital environmental control procedures can be an effective support in reducing health care associated infections. This study was divided into 2 phases, Phase I: Descriptive study: assessment of air quality in operating rooms at pediatric surgical hospital, the evaluated air quality indices were: suspended particulate matter, culture media and microbial identification of bacteria and fungi using active and passive air sampling. Phase II: Interventional study for improving air quality by new electronic air decontamination unit (Genano® 4500). After intervention the operation room moved up from (ISO 8) to (ISO 6) there is a highly statistical significant difference between particulate matter count before and after intervention also there is significant difference in active bacterial sampling and fungi sampling before and after applying electronic filtration device where fungal colony count dropped significantly to zero. All virulent bacterial species as E.Coli, klebsiellaspecies and Pseudomonas Aeroginosa. disappeared from sample with few micrococci and bacillus species were preset in few samples.