Why Should The Air In The Operating Theater Be Purified? How Is It Purified?

In modern hospitals, the environmental standards in the Operating Theater are far more stringent than we might think. What you may not know is that the cleanliness of the air in the operating theater is directly related to the risk of infection during surgery, and can even affect a patient's recovery after surgery.

So why is it important to clean the air in the operating theatre? And how is it done?

Why does the Operating Theater need to purify the air?

During surgery, dust, bacteria and viruses floating in the air can be a hidden threat. Especially in major surgeries, where the incision is long and invasive, the presence of too many microorganisms in the air can easily lead to post-operative infections. According to medical environmental control standards, the cleanliness of the air in the Operating Theater (OR) must reach a specific level in order to ensure surgical safety.

Therefore, air purification in the Operating Theater is not only for the purpose of meeting the regulations, but also for the safety of patients and healthcare workers.

How is the air purified in the Operating Theater?

Operating theater air purification is not the result of a single air purifier alone, it is in fact a complex set of systems working in tandem. Common purification methods include the following key components:

1. Air Handling Unit

Air Handling Unit (AHU) is the core equipment of the air-conditioning purification system in the operating theater. It can filter, heat up, cool down, dehumidify and humidify the new air introduced from outdoors to ensure that the air sent into the Operating Theater meets the compliance standards.

2. FFU Laminar Air Supply System

In order to ensure the cleanliness of the air in the Operating Theater area, the Operating Theater is generally equipped with FFU (Fan Filter Unit) laminar flow air supply units. This kind of equipment has built-in high-efficiency filters and fans, which can realise clean airflow from top to bottom, effectively diluting and discharging indoor polluted air, so that the surgical area is always in a positive pressure state, preventing external air from backing up.

3. Air Shower Room

In addition to purifying the indoor air, it is equally important to control the personnel and objects entering the operating theater, Air Shower is the ‘air bathroom’ that the medical staff must go through before entering the Operating Theater. It reduces the risk of contaminants entering the clean area by blowing away dust and micro-organisms adhering to the surfaces of the human body and clothing with a high velocity clean air stream.

Summary

Air purification in the Operating Theater is not only a technical requirement, but also a guarantee for the safety of patients' lives. From every aspect of the clean link is tightly closed, just to create a safe, clean, sterile Operating Theater environment.