Lifting incise drapes off the skin during wound closure can cause contamination

Incise drapes adhere well to skin and reduce bacterial migration into the wound. We took skin swabs before and after the application of incise drapes during 49 hip and knee arthroplasty procedures. Contamination was detected under incise drapes in four cases (8.1%) and consisted mainly of skin flora. We conclude that it is important to clean the skin again with antiseptics if the incise drape is removed by the surgeon.

Stockinette application over a non-prepped foot risks proximal contamination

This study sought to determine if there was an increased risk for surgical site contamination during stockinette application for a lower extremity surgery draping technique. Utilizing a simulated, sterile surgical field, stockinettes were applied over 10 cadaver lower extremities that were contaminated with non-pathogenic Escherichia coli on the foot. Of those, five specimens were then disinfected with Chloroprep and another 5 did not undergo any disinfection. All the specimens in which the stockinette was applied over a non-prepped foot showed proximal contamination. No contamination occurred in any of the specimens where the foot was disinfected. Stockinette can be a source of surgical site contamination when placed over a non-prepared foot.

[Introduction to method for determination of bio-burden on surgical drapes, gowns and clean air suits]

Firstly, the essay introduces the definition of bio-burden, the significance of determination of bio-burden and the specific performance requirements. Then, the essay introduces the method selection and validation on the bio-burden determination of surgical drapes, gowns and clean air suits.

Evaluation of bacterial contamination on surgical drapes following use of the Bair Hugger(®) forced air warming system

This pilot study determined the rate of bacterial contamination on surgical drapes of small animal patients warmed intra-operatively with the Bair Hugger(®) forced air warming system compared to a control method. Surgical drapes of 100 patients undergoing clean surgical procedures were swabbed with aerobic culturettes at the beginning and end of surgery. Samples were cultured on Trypticase soy agar. Contamination of the surgical drapes was identified in 6/98 cases (6.1%). There was no significant difference in the number of contaminated surgical drapes between the Bair Hugger(®) and control groups (P = 0.47).

[The evaluation of bacteria penetration by medical textiles for multiple use and disposable multilayer surgical drapes, according to the PN-EN ISO 22610 standard]

INTRODUCTION

Cotton as well as synthetic textile medical products are widely used as barrier materials and individual protection against displacement of biological infectious factors. The required level of protection of these products for multiple use and disposable multilayer laminates against the penetration of microbes depends on the risk connected with type of surgical procedure defined in normative documents. METHODS. Cotton and syntetic medical textiles for multiple use, 30-times subjected to processes simulating conditions of the use as well as disposable multilayer surgical drapes were tested. Resistance to microbial wet penetration was conducted according to the PN-EN ISO 22610: 2007 standard.

RESULTS

The barrier of cotton fabrics was reduced after first washing and then systematically grew after each often cycles to the value close to the value at the beginning. From the twentieth cycle of simulated conditions of the use, barrier index was reduced. The barrier of the synthetic textile stayed on the average level, while multilayer disposable products ensured the full impermeability for the bacteria.

CONCLUSIONS

Natural cotton textiles for multiple use could be apply on operative blocks in limited range because of the changes of the cotton structure caused by repeated laundering process and sterilization. Synthetic materials also have limited application, although are more resistant to cleaning and sterilization processes. Disposable synthetic laminates with many layers use guarantee impermeability for bacteria and may be applied in operative blocks without restrictions.

[A verification study assessing the test method for resistance to dry microbial penetration about surgical gowns and surgical drapes]

By testing the less critical product areas of two different materials, this paper verifies the test method described in ISO 22612.