The dynamics and implications of bacterial transmission events arising from the anesthesia work area.

Loftus, Randy W; Koff, Matthew D; Birnbach, David J · Anesth Analg · 2015

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Abstract

Health care-associated infections are a hospital-wide concern associated with a significant increase in patient morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Bacterial transmission in the anesthesia work area of the operating room environment is a root cause of 30-day postoperative infections affecting as many as 16% of patients undergoing surgery. A better understanding of anesthesia-related bacterial transmission dynamics may help to generate improvements in intraoperative infection control and improve patient safety.

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