April 2014
Volume 55, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2014
Microbial patient and operating room personnel sampling and culture evaluation of an ambulatory ophthalmological unit. A novel protocol.
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • David J Sackel
    Ophthalmology, New York University, New York, NY
  • Anastasios J Kanellopoulos
    Ophthalmology, New York University, New York, NY
    Laservision.gr Eye Institute, Athens, Greece
  • Georgios Chatzilaou
    Laservision.gr Eye Institute, Athens, Greece
  • George Asimellis
    Laservision.gr Eye Institute, Athens, Greece
  • Laurence T Sperber
    Ophthalmology, New York University, New York, NY
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships David Sackel, None; Anastasios Kanellopoulos, Alcon (C), Avedro (C); Georgios Chatzilaou, None; George Asimellis, None; Laurence Sperber, None
  • Footnotes
    Support None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2014, Vol.55, 2823. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      David J Sackel, Anastasios J Kanellopoulos, Georgios Chatzilaou, George Asimellis, Laurence T Sperber; Microbial patient and operating room personnel sampling and culture evaluation of an ambulatory ophthalmological unit. A novel protocol.. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2014;55(13):2823.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract
 
Purpose
 

To evaluate an elaborative, novel protocol of personnel and patient nasal and conjunctival mucosa sampling as well as surface and air sampling of the several levels of sterility operating rooms in a modern ophthalmological ambulatory surgical center

 
Methods
 

Operating room personnel (surgeons, nurses, technicians, assistants) and 122 consecutive patients were sampled with swab smears of nasal and conjunctival mucosa, prior to any ophthalmic drop administration and sterility. In eight rooms comprising the ambulatory surgical center, three levels of sterility were defined: 1: changing rooms, pre-op, and recovery area, 2: connecting hallways and sterilization room, 3: intraocular and refractive operating rooms. All rooms were sampled bi-weekly: wall and ceiling swab smears and air sampling with handheld air-sampler. The ventilation system air filters were removed, swabbed and cultured also. All cultures were analyzed and processed in a specialized microbiology laboratory.

 
Results
 

Surgeon cultures showed: Staphylococcus epidermidis, Nurse and technician cultures showed Staphylococcus epidermidis and logdunensi, and patient cultures showed Staphylococcus epidmidis and Streptococcus pneumonia. Level 1 areas showed air samples: 200 CFU/m3 (microbial only colonies per cubic meter) wall and door swabs: 5 CFU of bacteria only (no fungus) Level 2 areas showed: air samples: 120 CFU/m3, wall, door and microscope swabs: 2 CFU, bacteria only no fungus Level 3 areas showed: air samples: 88 CFU/m3 wall, door and microscope swabs: 3 CFU, bacteria only (no fungus). Almost all bacteria were Staphylococcus epidermidis with one CFU of Staphylococcus lugdunensis.

 
Conclusions
 

This novel elaborative microbial monitoring system of an ambulatory operating unit provided detailed data of the classification and population of microbes and the exact topographic location in the operating rooms. This information may provide reference to disinfecting techniques, and caution surgeons to appropriate antimicrobial prophylaxis.

 
Keywords: 422 antibiotics/antifungals/antiparasitics • 593 microbial pathogenesis: clinical studies  
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×