PP342 : Continuous microbiological surveillance in OTs – An Insight

Dr.Chandrasekhar D

To study the Operation theatre microbiological surveillance from start to finishon on a day. Method: This study involves surveillance of 3 operation theatres from two institutes . 4 swabs and 2 settle plates starting from 7 AM every 2 hrs for 5 times and cultured for Bacteria and Fungus. 2 theatres were fumigated with AHU attached and 1 theatre was with HEPA filter. Observation : All results at the beginning were nil colonies in HEPA OT and 0 to 4 of Gram positive bacillus and/or coagulase negative staphylococcus in Fumigated OTs and subsequently Maximum of only 4 colonies in OT with HEPA filter and a maximum of 9 colonies in Fumigated theatres which was acceptable. Inference: Fumigation and HEPA are effective with HEPA better. Apart from fumigation or HEPA it is the constant cleaning and in between cleaning processes that are important in effective infection control. More over it will be contaminated fluids, instruments or infected personnel that are major source of infection.