Operation theaters and sterilization requirements — Design consideration and standards for infection control

Abstract

An operation theater (OT) complex is the “heart” of any hospital. An operating theater, operating room (OR), surgery suite, or a surgery center is a room within a hospital where surgical and other operations are carried out. The patient is the center point of a functioning OT complex. He/she is in isolation for varying times, away from his near and dear ones and is physically sick. Efforts should be directed to maintain vital functions, prevent infections/promote healing with safety, comfort, and economy. A “civil-mechanical-electrical-electronic-biomedical” combo effort driven and coordinated by the needs, preferences, and safety of the medical/surgical team forms the basis for starting and maintaining an OT. Hospitals should exercise great care in proper maintenance of the OR environment, heating ventilation and air-conditioning system (HVAC) system, and medical and nonmedical equipment inside the OR. Personnel involved in disinfection and sterilization process should follow aseptic protocols. Aseptic protocols mean following safe and disciplined procedures to minimize or eradicate the microbiological load in the environment and in the instrument brought into the sterile field during the surgery.

Keywords

• disinfection
• hvac standards
• sterilisation
• operation theatres
• zoning