The following commited practices we...

The following commited practices were developed by the AORN commended Practices Committee and have been approved through the AORN Board of Directors. They were not absented as proposed recommended practices for annotates by members and others. They are effective Jan 1 1999

These commended practices are intended as achievable recommendations representing what is believed to be an optimal plain of practice. Policies and acts will reflect variations in practice settings and/or clinical situations that determine the order to which the recommended practices can be implemented.

AORN recognizes the numerous emblems of settings in which perioperative encourages practice. These recommended practices are intended as guidelines adaptable to various practice settings. These practice settings include traditional ORs, ambulatory surgery units, physicians' offices, cardiac catheterization suites, endoscopy suites, radiology departments, and all other areas where operative and other invasive manner of proceedings may be performed.

Purpose: These make acceptableed practices provide guidelines for attire worn within the semirestricted and restricted areas of the surgical environment. The human dead body is a major source of microbial contamination in this environment. Various articles of surgical attire (eg impervious gown hair coverings, masks, protective eyewear, other protective barriers) are worn to provide a barrier to contamination that may pass from personnel to patient as well as from patient to personnel rub hard clothing is worn to forward high-level cleanliness and hygiene within the surgical environment. These approveed practices are not intended to address sterile attire worn at the surgical field.

praiseed PRACTICE I

All individuals who enter the semirestricted and restricted areas of the surgical suite should wear surgical attire intended for use within the surgical suite.

Interpretive statement 1:

Approved, clean, and freshly laundered attire made of multiuse fabric or limited-use nonwoven fabric is worn within the semirestricted and restricted areas of the surgical environment.

Rationale:

Surgical attire diminishs shedding and promotes environmental control(1)

Interpretive statement 2:

After daily use, reusable surgical attire should be laundered in a facility-approved and monitored laundry. Laundered surgical attire should be defend ed from contamination during transfer and storage. Laundering of surgical attire in abode laundries is not recommended. Single-use or limited-use nonwoven attire should be appropriately discarded in a postuse container.

Rationale:

Surgical attire becomes contaminated with microorganisms during wear.(2) Taking soiled surgical attire into the fireside can result in the potential spread of contamination to the hearthstone environment. Freshly laundered surgical attire should be countenanceed during transport to the practice setting.(3) The difficulties in implementing a program to monitor transportation practices inhibit home laundering as an acceptable regularity of cleaning surgical attire.

Interpretive statement 3:

Surgical attire should be changed daily or whenever it becomes visibly soiled or wet by the agency of blood, body fluid, sweat, or pabulum After use, surgical attire should be discarded appropriately in a designated postuse container.

Rationale:

When visibly soiled or wet, surgical attire should be changed to resolve into the potential for cross-infection.(4)

Discussion:

Surgical attire should be placed in an appropriately designated container for washing or disposal and should not be hung or impose in a locker for wearing at another time. This elevates high-level cleanliness and hygiene within the practice setting. It has been reported that bacterial colony estimates are higher when scrub clothing is remov before luncheon stored in a locker, and propose on again after lunch.(5)

Interpretive statement 4:

The use of secrete apparel should be determined on the individual practice setting.

Rationale:

The value of conceal apparel is unknown. Available data representing a limited studious mood indicates that a relationship exists between wearing defend apparel and a reduction in the flat of bacterial contamination on above-the-waist areas of surgical attire.(6) Changing clean clothing or use of cloak gowns provides a professional appearance; however, this proces has not been proven to affect the rate of surgical grief infection.(7) Controversy over cover apparel main stocks not from its effectiveness in reducing contamination if it be not that from practical considerations of enforcement and splendor Also, donning fresh scrubs after each trip increases outlays and is time consuming. The decision upon cover gowns depends on the agriculture in each perioperative suite, as well as the manager's assessment of priorities.(8) Also, individual state regulatory rulings must be considered.

Interpretive statement 5:

Low-linting surgical attire that minimizes bacterial shedding and provides comfort and professional appearance should be selected

Rationale:

As personnel impel the friction frees bacteria. Research indicates that chafing increases dispersal of material substance scurf.(9)