The operating theatre complex is the heart of any major surgical hospital. Good operating theatre design meets the functional needs of theatre care professionals. Operating theatre design must pay careful consideration to traffic patterns, the number and configuration of nearby operating rooms, the space required for staff, administration and storage, provisions for sterile processing and systems to control airborne contaminants (Wan et al 2011). There have been infection control issues with private finance initiative built operating theatres (Unison 2003, Ontario Health Coalition 2005). The aim of this article is to address these issues as they relate to infection control and prevention.
Al-BennaS, CollinTW, SpaldingL, JefferySLA2007National variations in dressings and antibiotic prophylaxis for paediatric scaldsBurns33(6) 798–9
2.
Al-BennaS, RodriguesJ, SheikhZ2008Blood splashes to the face during local anaesthetic outpatient skin surgeryJournal of Hospital Infection69(1) 94–5
3.
Al-BennaS2010a Laundering of theatre scrubs at homeJournal of Perioperative Practice20(11) 392–6
4.
Al-BennaS2010b Needlestick and sharps injuries among theatre care professionalsJournal of Perioperative Practice20(12) 440–5
5.
Al-BennaS2010c A discourse on the contributions of evidence-based medicine to wound care OstomyWound Management56(6) 48–54
6.
Al-BennaS, AlzoubaidiD, Al-AjamY2010Evidence based burn care: An assessment of the methodological quality of research published in burn care journals from 1982–2008Burns36(8) 1190–5
7.
Al-BennaS2011Perioperative management of morbid obesityJournal of Perioperative Practice21(7) 225–33
8.
Al-BennaS2012The impact of late-starts and overruns on theatre utilisation ratesJournal of Perioperative Practice22(6) 197–9
9.
American Institute of Architects2010Guidelines for construction and equipment of hospital and health care facilitiesWashington (DC), AIA Press
10.
ByrneC, HazleriggA, KhanW, SmithamP2011The role of perioperative care in reducing rates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureusJournal of Perioperative Practice21(12) 410–7
11.
ChoiJI, EdwardsJR2012Large-eddy simulation of human-induced contaminant transport in room compartmentsIndoor Air22(1) 77–87
12.
ClarkRP, de Calcina-GoffML2009Some aspects of the airborne transmission of infectionJournal of the Royal Society6(6 Suppl 6) S767–82
13.
CorreaNE, CatañoJC, MejíaGI2010Outbreak of mesotherapy-associated cutaneous infections caused by Mycobacterium chelonae in ColombiaJapanese Journal of Infectious Diseases63(2) 143–5
14.
CristinaML, SartiniM, SpagnoloAM2009Health care-acquired aspergillosis and air conditioning systemsJournal of Preventative Medicine and Hygiene50(1) 3–8
15.
de KorneDF, van WijngaardenJD, van RooijJ2012Safety by design: effects of operating room floor marking on the position of surgical devices to promote clean air flow compliance and minimise infection risksBritish Medical Journal Quality and Safety In press
EvansRP2011Current concepts for clean air and total joint arthroplasty: laminar airflow and ultraviolet radiation: a systematic reviewClinical Orthopaedics & Related Research469(4) 945–53
18.
FrabettiA, VandiniA, BalboniP, TrioloF, MazzacaneS2009Experimental evaluation of the efficacy of sanitation procedures in operating roomsAmerican Journal of Infection Control37(8) 658–64
19.
HirschT, KoerberA, JacobsenF2010Evaluation of toxic side effects of clinically used skin antiseptics in vitroJournal of Surgical Research164(2) 344–50
20.
HowardJL, HanssenAD2007Principles of a clean operating room environmentJournal of Arthroplasty22(7 Suppl 3) 6–11
21.
HumphreysH, CoiaJE, StaceyA2012Guidelines on the facilities required for minor surgical procedures and minimal access interventionsJournal of Hospital Infection80(2) 103–9
22.
KimMJ, MascolaL2010Mycobacterium chelonae wound infection after liposuctionEmerging Infectious Diseases16(7) 1173–5
23.
LidwellOM, ElsonRA, LowburyEJ1987Ultraclean air and antibiotics for prevention of postoperative infection: a multicenter study of 8,052 joint replacement operationsActa Orthopaedica Scandinavica58(1) 4–13
24.
LindsayW, BigsbyE, BannisterG2011Prevention of infection in orthopaedic joint replacementJournal of Perioperative Practice21(6) 206–9
25.
LynchRJ, EnglesbeMJ, SturmL2009Measurement of foot traffic in the operating room: implications for infection controlAmerican Journal of Medical Quality24(1) 45–52
26.
MouchtouriVA, GoutzianaG, KremastinouJ, HadjichristodoulouC2010Legionella species colonization in cooling towers: risk factors and assessment of control measuresAmerican Journal of Hospital Infection38(1) 50–5
PirieS2010a Patient care in the perioperative environmentJournal of Perioperative Practice20(7) 245–8
34.
PirieS2010b Hand washing and surgical hand antisepsisJournal of Perioperative Practice20(5) 169–72
35.
PirieS2010c Surgical gowning and glovingJournal of Perioperative Practice20(6) 207–9
36.
Public Health Agency of Canada2001Construction-related nosocomial Infections for patients in health care facilities: Decreasing the risk of Aspergillus, Legionella and other infectionsCanada Communicable Disease Report27(S2) 1–55
37.
PanahiP, StrohM, CasperDS, ParviziJ, AustinMS2012Operating room traffic is a major concern during total joint arthroplastyClinical Orthopaedics & Related Research In press
38.
QuickJ2011Infection control beyond our control?Journal of Perioperative Practice21(6) 188
39.
RitterMA, OlberdingEM, MalinzakRA2007Ultraviolet lighting during orthopaedic surgery and the rate of infectionJournal of Bone and Joint Surgery89(9) 1935–40
40.
SayersK2010Must put patients firstJournal of Perioperative Practice20(4) 132
41.
SivanandanI, BowkerKE, BannisterGC, SoarJ2011Reducing the risk of surgical site infection: a case controlled study of contamination of theatre clothingJournal of Perioperative Practice21(2) 69–72
42.
SmithB2010Yearning to share to raise standards (Editorial)Journal of Perioperative Practice20(5) 155
43.
SmithB2011Evidence-based (Editorial)Journal of Perioperative Practice21(4) 111
44.
SteinstraesserL, Al-BennaS, KestingM, JacobsenF2009Bioengineered human skin: working the bugs outMolecular Therapy17(3) 405–8
45.
StocksGW, O'ConnorDP, SelfSD, MarcekGA, ThompsonBL2011Directed air flow to reduce airborne particulate and bacterial contamination in the surgical field during total hip arthroplastyJournal of Arthroplasty26(5) 771–6
46.
SydnorERM, PerlTM2011Hospital epidemiology and infection control in acute-care settingsClinical Microbiology Reviews24(1) 141–73
