Exploring Biofilm in Surgical Operation Theatres

Abstract

Hygienic and aseptic conditions in medical and health facilities are a factor of high importance. Recently, some cases of post-surgery infections were noticed even with strict and professional disinfection protocols. This triggers the presumption of a hidden infection source which may be due to the construction-reconstruction cycle of a biofilm. While this phenomenon is well studied and treated in some places in operating theatres; namely, equipment with water flow inside, the infections may be sourced from other parts or surfaces which must be determined.

In order to investigate, biofilm existence on surfaces in operating rooms was tested using traditional crystal violet assay. After that, coupons were fixed in selected places in the same rooms to affirm and quantify biofilm existence. Finally, the source of pollution was investigated confirming that it comes from cleaning water buckets as one of other less sources.

Results show that biofilms establish on various surfaces in surgical operating theaters as a result of errors in primary cleaning associated with the fact that disinfection protocols were targeting planktonic, not biofilm bacteria. This suggests rendering the current disinfection protocols to include biofilm