Some observations on protective efficacy of surgical clothing systems with additional clothing components concerning airborne bacteria-carrying particles measured during ongoing surgery.

Journal article, 2021

The main source of airborne bacteria-carrying particles is the staff and the patient. In order to reduce airborne bacteria-carrying particles from the staff, it is important that the surgical team wears a functional clothing system. This paper compares results from measurement studies of the protective efficacy, i.e., source strength, of a surgical clothing system with different additional clothing components. The studies were performed during ongoing surgery. The results show that the use of disposable hood or textile hood and the use of knee-length textile boots have considerable influence on the source strength, i.e., microbial air cleanliness in the operating room.