EFFECT OF VENTILATION STRATEGIES ON INFECTION CONTROL INSIDE OPERATING THEATRES

The increased awareness of post-operative infections occurring in operating theatres has increased the pressure on hospital managements. This study proposes to investigate different ventilation options for the operating theatres, both standard and orthopaedic, within a hospital development in order to provide hospital managements with a clear definition of the available ventilation options. Commercially available UCV systems and more economical alternatives were modelled. Each type of system was studied in various size configurations, with and without skirts and with various styles of surgical lights. Effects of surgical light heat load, ACH, outlet air split percentage and outlet air grills location were examined too. Based on results obtained from the study, it was demonstrated that supply air outlets fitted with a 3000x3000 UCV system capable of supplying at least 63 ACH and a surgical light with minimal face area to interrupt flow was the preferred option based on meeting the performance requirements and cost effectiveness. Furthermore, the indoor air quality has been found to be highly dependent on the ACH.