3 2
S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | M AY 2 0 1 4
sterile when you open them on your sterile field is to be sure they don't slide
over the edge of the wrapper. It's a detail that's easy to overlook, but sliding
them against the outside of the packaging can transfer bacteria.
3. What's new with surgical attire?
In June 2007, the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee
recommended for the first time that spinal procedure operators wear surgical
masks to prevent infections associated with such procedures as lumbar punc-
tures. Some hospitals post checklists that remind practitioners to don masks
when inserting central venous and peripheral catheters. These practices have
significantly decreased infections.
Companies are well aware of the growing body of evidence related to barrier
protection and are responding accordingly. Different types of procedures may
require different types of gowns and drapes. There are now color-coded gowns
with different degrees of thickness and durability, which you can select based
on the type of surgery. For example, a minor operation does not require the
thickness that a multiple trauma would require.
As time goes on, the goal will be to balance the dual needs of keeping your
patients and staff safe, while also being economically responsible. Those consid-
erations will help you make the right choices.
Barrier's bottom line
There are several variables and several things that
can go wrong in an OR setting. If a patient gets an
infection, chances are you're not going to be able to
trace the source. Was it because a staff member's
hair was hanging out of her cap, or because a team
member didn't scrub properly? Was it a hole in a
glove or a hole in an instrument wrapper that went
P E R S O N A L P R O T E C T I O N
TABLE TALK
The thinking on
whether or not to
it's safe to drape
surgical setups
has changed.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
1405_InfectionControl_Layout 1 5/2/14 11:06 AM Page 32
