Management protocols for functioning of operation theatre complex during COVID-19 pandemic – Perspective of a zonal hospital

Abstract

Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention announced a novel coronavirus as causative pathogen of COVID-19 on 08th January 2020, after the epidemic broke in Wuhan, China. The coronavirus infection has been incontrollable since then and was given the status of pandemic by the World Health organization in March 2020. World has come to a standstill with the advent of COVID-19 pandemic and multiple changes have made way in the normal functioning of life as well as health-care system. Despite lockdown and restrictions on movement and travel, the virus has managed to seep into multiple countries and presently India is witnessing more than 50,000 new cases daily. Health-care system all over world is exhausted and struggling to handle this contagious virus. This article is an attempt to summarize essential knowledge of COVID-19, review current understanding of COVID-19, and provide recommended management protocols for functioning of operation theater complex which have been formulated and are being followed in our Armed Forces Zonal Hospital in Southern India since Mar 2020.

Keywords

• disinfection
• pandemic
• personal protective equipment
• prevention
• sterilization
• virus