5 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
B
rand-new ORs feel clean, don't they? The floor
squeaks, the walls shine and those expensive LED
lights hanging over the soon-to-be sterile field don't
pick up a speck of dust.
It's a picture-perfect scene worthy of appearing in mar-
keting brochures and surgical magazines. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Bacteria is waiting to grow on the room's shiny new surfaces and air-
borne contaminants are hanging around to settle onto instruments,
incisions and implants. It's important to consider the following factors
as you're designing an OR to keep the bugs at bay because the plans
you put on paper will face the ultimate test as soon as the first patient
arrives.
Joe Paone | Senior Associate Editor
• ELBOW GREASE Even the hardest working staff members might not cover every inch of the OR during room turnovers.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
Make Your ORs Infection Proof
There are plenty of ways to build bacteria-free
zones when you're working with a clean slate.