Operating Room Environmental Control: How to Effectively Prevent Dust and Bacteria

1. Importance of Operating Rooms and Clean Environment Requirements Operating rooms are among the most strictly controlled environments in hospitals. The primary goal is to minimize postoperative infection risk by controlling airborne dust, microorganisms (such as bacteria and viruses), and suspended particles. According to international standard ISO 14644-1, operating rooms typically must meet ISO Class 5 cleanliness (100-class cleanroom), where the number of particles ≥ 0.5 µm must not exceed 3,520 per cubic meter.
2. Ventilation Systems: The Core of Cleanliness Maintaining a sterile operating room relies heavily on high-efficiency laminar airflow systems with the following features:

1. Continuous Air Exchange: At least 25 air changes per hour to ensure rapid air renewal.
2. Directional Airflow: Vertical or horizontal laminar flow directs clean air from the ceiling downward or in one direction to avoid turbulence.
3. Multi-Stage Filtration: Air contaminants are removed via a three-stage filtration system (pre-filter, medium, and high-efficiency).

iii. Core Filter Components and Functions of the Ventilation System

*Panel Filter: Serves as pre-filter to block coarse particles and protect downstream filters. *Box Filter: Designed for medium filtration, with box construction for higher pressure tolerance. *Pocket Filter: Bag-style increases surface area and reduces pressure drop; suitable for long-term use. *Compact Filter: Small but powerful, ideal for end-stage filtration in space-constrained settings.

iv. Pressure Control: Preventing Contamination from Outside Positive pressure design prevents external air infiltration:

1. Pressure Gradient: Operating room pressure is maintained at +15 Pa above adjacent hallways to allow clean air to flow outward.
2. Airlock Rooms: Personnel pass through pressure-regulated airlocks to avoid pressure imbalance when doors open.
3. Automated Doors: Sensor-operated rapid-closing doors open ≤5 seconds to minimize air exchange.

v. Personnel Entry Protocol & Contamination Control

Changing and Disinfection:

1. Wear sterile gown, mask, cap, and shoe covers.
2. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers to kill 99.9% of common bacteria.

Air Shower Cleaning:

1. Pass through an air shower with high-speed airflow (≥20 m/s) to remove surface particles.
2. Minimum 15 seconds of airflow removes over 90% of surface dust.

Unidirectional Flow:

1. Strictly limit movement in and out to prevent cross-contamination.

vi. Data Support & Industry Standards Cleanliness Validation:

• Periodic particle counting with particle counters to ensure compliance with ISO Class 5 standards.

Filter Replacement Schedule:

• Panel Filter: Replace every 3 months.
• Box Filter: Replace every 6-12 months.
• HEPA Pocket Filter: Replace every 2-3 years (or upon pressure alarm).
• ULPA Compact Filter: Replace every 3-5 years.

Microbial Monitoring:

• Weekly sedimentation plate tests (30-minute exposure, ≤0.2 CFU/plate).

vii. Dual Guarantee: Technology & Management Operating room contamination control is a result of advanced engineeringand strict administrativeprotocols:

• Technical Backbone: Laminar flow systems + multi-stage filtration (e.g., Nanofiltech HEPA/ULPA filters) + positive pressure control.
• Operational Backbone: Personnel protocols + regular equipment maintenance (e.g., filter replacement) + real-time environmental monitoring.

With these systems in place, modern operating rooms can reduce infection rates to under 0.3% (compared to 5%-10% in general wards), ensuring optimal patient safety.

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