A bacteriological evaluation of laminar-flow systems for orthopaedic surgery

Abstract

SUMMARY An evaluation has been undertaken of the efficiency of laminar-flow ventilation in operating-rooms in which conventional operating-room clothing was used. It has been demonstrated that velocities in the region of 0·3–0·4 m/sec. will give maximum returns for effort in both down-flow and cross-flow systems. At this velocity the laminar-flow system, in terms of airborne bacteria measured at the would site, was about 11 times more effients using horizontal air-flow and 35–90 times more efficient using vertical air-flow than a plenum-ventilated operating room.