This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Lynch, R. J. Articles by Campbell, D. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lynch, R. J. Articles by Campbell, D. A., Jr Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Measurement of Foot Traffic in the Operating Room: Implications for Infection Control

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Department of Surgery

Michael J. Englesbe, MD

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, englesbe{at}umich.edu, Department of Surgery

Lisa Sturm, MPH

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Department of Infection Control & Epidemiology

Amira Bitar, BS

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Department of Industrial Operations Engineering

Karn Budhiraj, BS

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Department of Industrial Operations Engineering

Sandeep Kolla, BS

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Department of Industrial Operations Engineering

Yuliya Polyachenko, BS

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Department of Industrial Operations Engineering

Mary G. Duck, BS

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Department of Industrial Operations Engineering

Darrell A. Campbell, Jr, MD

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Office of Clinical Affairs

Surgical site infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in the postoperative period. Opening of the operating room door disrupts its filtered atmosphere, increasing contamination above the wound. We conducted a study of traffic in the operating room as a risk for infections. This is an observational study of recorded behaviors in the operating room. Data collected included number of people entering/exiting, the role of these individuals, and the cause for the event. A total of 3071 door openings were recorded in 28 cases. Traffic varied from 19 to 50 events per hour across specialties. The preincision period represented 30% to 50% of all events. Information requests accounted for the majority of events. Door openings increase in direct proportion to case length, but have an exponential relationship with the number of persons in the operating room. There is a high rate of traffic across all specialties, compromising the sterile environment of the operating room. (Am J Med Qual. 2009;24:45-52)

Key Words: surgical site infection • operating room • foot traffic • door opening • hospital operations

American Journal of Medical Quality, Vol. 24, No. 1, 45-52 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1062860608326419


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?