The operating room should be the cleanest environment in a hospital in order to protect the medical professionals and patients from infections and contamination. To keep these environments as clean as possible, hospitals provide policies and standards for the doctors and nurses that work in the surgical unit. The surgical attire that is donned in the operating room plays a significant role in keeping the cross contamination at a minimum. The Association of Surgical Technologies provides a guideline of the attire and steps that should be taken by surgical personnels before stepping into surgery.

Head Covers

Head covers or hoods are a must for any surgical environment. This should be the first item to be placed on when prepping for surgery. The AST Standards of Practice for Surgical Attire, Surgical Scrub, Hand Hygiene and Handwashing states that head covers prevent the shedding of hair, squamous cells, and/or dandruff onto the scrub suit.

Masks

The mask protects the eyes, nose, and mouth from the splash or spray of bodily fluids that could cause infections or the spread of diseases. It should be a tight fit, covering the nose and mouth. The tight fit decreases the ventilation of “infectious microbes” that can affect the surgical team.

Surgical Suit

The surgical suit, if reusable, must be lint-free, clean, laundered daily. The AST states that the surgical suit will contain the shedding of skin cells that could cause cross contamination, if not properly worn. The surgical suit also needs to be breathable to reduce body heat and sweating.

Shoe Covers

Shoe covers protect surgical personnel’s feet and footwear from bodily fluids. Disposable shoe covers should be worn if there is an anticipation of blood or any other various fluids that could spray, splash, or spill while operating. Once used, the shoe covers will need to be disposed of in designated receptacles close to the semi-restricted area.

The surgical attire that medical professionals put on before surgery is a necessity to keep both the patient and the surgical personnel safe. The items listed above are not the only things that medical teams need to have on during surgery, but they are all highly important. The AST guide gives a more detailed look into what steps need to be taken before entering the operating room.