Instrument tables equipped with local unidirectional airflow units reduce bacterial contamination during orthopedic implant surgery in an operating room with a displacement ventilation system.

Background: Airborne bacteria present in the operating room may be a cause of surgical site infection, either contaminating the surgical wound directly, or indirectly via e.g. surgical instruments. The aim of this study was to evaluate if instrument and assistant tables equipped with local unidirectional airflow reduce bacterial contamination of the instrument area to ultra clean levels, during orthopedic implant surgery in an operating room with displacement ventilation. Methods: Local airflow units of instrument and assistant tables were either active or inactive. Colony forming units were sampled intraoperatively from the air above the instruments and from instrument dummies. A minimum of three air samples and two-three samples from instrument dummies were taken during each surgery. Samples were incubated on agar for total aerobic bacterial count. The mean air and instrument contamination during each surgery was calculated and used to analyze the difference in contamination depending on use of local airflow or not. All procedures were performed in the same OR. Results: 188 air and 124 instrument samples were collected during 48 orthopedic implant procedures. Analysis showed that local unidirectional airflow above the surgical instruments significantly reduced the bacterial count in the air above assistant table (P<0.001) and instrument table (P=0.002), as well as on the instrument dummies from the assistant table (P=0.001). Conclusions: Instrumentation tables equipped with local unidirectional airflow protect the surgical instruments from bacterial contamination during orthopedic implant surgery and may therefore reduce the risk of indirect wound contamination.

Effectiveness of implementing a preventive urinary catheter care bundle in hip fracture patients.

Background: Urinary catheter (UC)-associated infections are one of the most common preventable healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and they frequently occur in older, frail populations. Aim: The study aim was to describe the incidence of UC-associated infection in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery after implementing a preventive care bundle. Methods: A longitudinal prospective study using a before-and-after design. The bundle was theory driven and involved the co-creation of a standard operational procedure, education and practical training sessions. Prospectively collected registry data were analysed. Univariable statistics and multivariable logistic regressions were used for analyses. Results: 2,408 patients with an acute hip fracture were included into the study. There was an overall reduction in UC catheter associated-associated urinary tract infections, from 18.5% (n = 75/406) over time to 4.2% (n = 27/647). When adjusting for all identified confounders, patients in phase 4 were 74% less likely to contract an UC-associated infection (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.15-0.45, p < 0.0001). Discussion: Bundled interventions can reduce UC-associated infections substantially, even in elderly frail patients. Partnership and co-creation as implementation strategies appear to be promising in the fight against HAI.