[Sue.Greig@HEALTH.GOV.AU Subject: Re: Temperature & Humidity in Theatres [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED] In-Reply-To:]

Hi Paul,

Check the following areas as that should
provide the evidence you require that has provided the background to the
statements made in the ACORN, ACSQHC and other resources. I have included
points of reference that also provide additional references for review.

http://www.ashrae.org


http://www.industrialairsolutions.com/contamination-control/hospital-air-purifiers-pdf/AIA-Guidelines-patient-care-construction.pdf


http://www.healthdesign.com.au/vic.dghdp/dghdp_content/guidelines/dghdp_part_e_complete_1_46.PDF


http://www.healthfacilityguidelines.com.au/AusHFG_Documents/Guidelines/Aushfg_D_860.pdf

Regards,

Sue


Sue Greig

Senior Project
Officer

Australian
Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care

GPO Box 5480
Sydney NSW 2001 | Level 7, 1 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

(
direct (02) 9126 3565 | (
switchboard (02) 9126 3600 | 6
(02) 9126 3613 |

Email
sue.greig@safetyandquality.gov.au
| http://www.safetyandquality.gov.au

 

Paul Simpson <Paul.Simpson@EYEANDEAR.ORG.AU> Sent by: ACIPC Infexion Connexion <AICALIST@AICALIST.ORG.AU> 27/07/2012 01:10 PM Please respond to ACIPC Infexion Connexion <AICALIST@AICALIST.ORG.AU>

To AICALIST@AICALIST.ORG.AU cc Subject Temperature & Humidity in Theatres  [SEC=No Protective Marking]

Hi all,

 

A strange request in the middle of winter
however, I was wondering if anyone had any information, policy or procedure
relating to Temperature & Humidity with the Operating Theatre environment
that relates to increased risk of infection. The
Australian College of Operating Room Nurses (ACORN) state in their Standards
for Peri-operative Nursing (2006, G3 page 5):

3.6 Temperature, Humidity and Ventilation
The optimal temperature for individual operating rooms is 20 to 22 degrees
Celsius and relative humidity 50-60%. Elsewhere in the peri-operative environment
ranges of 18-24 degrees Celsius and 40-60% relative humidity are acceptable.

Although they provide no evidence base for
this statement, also very recent guidelines aimed at facilities undertaking
minor surgical procedures produced jointly between Ireland and the United
Kingdom (Humphreys et al, 2012) recommend temperature ranges of 18-22 degrees
Celsius with relative humidity within the range of 20-60%, again with no
evidence base appearing to be expert opinion. The Australian Guidelines
for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare also make the
statement that the optimal ventilation rates, airflow patterns and humidity
can help minimise the spread of infection (ACSQHC, 2010) yet again providing
no evidence for this statement.

Therefore, I carried out a small literature
review with regards to temperature and humidity within the operating room
and the risk of post-operative infections but I found no evidence of note.
One study conducted in Taiwan (Wan, Chung and Tang, 2011) had analysed
indoor air quality of 8 operating rooms and found that a mean relative
humidity range between 68.2% to 70.2% (above the levels suggested in the
two guidelines presented earlier) had no correlation with bacterial concentrations
analysed by air sampling.

Appreciate your views, from a cold Melbourne.

Regards,

 

Paul Simpson, RN, MSc

Infection Control Consultant

 

   

 
The Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital, 32 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne,
3002, VIC
Tel: +613 9929 8523 | Pager: 366 | Fax: +613 9663 7203

 

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