Contamination of the operative wound.

A study of the bacteriologic environment of the conventional operating rooms in the hospitals used by the Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgical section revealed several areas of potential contamination of the surgical wound. Such areas included the back table and the unsterile suction receptacle. Use of an impermeable hood with a large mask diminished contamination of the instruments and the wound originating in direct fallout from members of the surgical team. Irrigation of the operative wound with 0.1 per cent neomycin solution for brief periods was not as effective as previously thought. The level of airborne bacterial contamination in the operating room can be reduced by limiting the traffic and controlling the activity and the number of operating room personnel. Although none of these factors could be directly related to operative wound sepsis in any of our studies, their potential was obvious. They can be controlled by the methods we have described.