Surveillance and Effect of Electronic Air Filtration on Surgical Site Infection in Operating Rooms of a Pediatric Surgery Department

Background: Surgical site infections (SSI) lead to morbidity, extended hospitalization, and
death. SSI surveillance is an important strategy to decrease SSI risk. Objectives: The study
aimed to measure SSI incidence in pediatric surgeries, and to assess the effectiveness of
electronic air filtration on surgical site infection rate in operating rooms of pediatric surgery
department, Ain Shams university hospital. Method: An interventional study and a
prospective SSI surveillance for 12 months (6 months before intervention) and (6 months
after intervention) were done; where patients were tracked for 30 days after date of operation
for the occurrence of SSI according to CDC Criteria, 2008 for SSI diagnosis. Data were
collected through 3 worksheets for patient, surgery characteristics and telephone survey
follow up. Intervention for improving air quality was performed by new electronic air
decontamination unit beside the conventional ventilation system. Results: The overall
incidence rate of SSIs was 24%. SSIs rate and was significantly higher among control group < br />than intervention group. Factors associated with SSIs were absence of chronic illness,
discharge after surgery to ICU, contaminated surgical wound class, and long duration of
surgery. Conclusion and recommendations: Intervention with electronic filtration device
beside the conventional ventilation system is protective against SSIs as it improves air quality
in operating rooms. Therefore, stress on the establishment of SSIs surveillance for tracking
the incidence rate and addressing the possible controlling factors and more attention should be
done to improve air quality in operating room to decrease the incidence of SSIs.