Optimizing surgical site infection control systems: evaluating operating room ventilation system effectiveness in public hospitals

Surgical site infections (SSIs) pose a significant threat to patient health and can result from various sources, including airborne bacteria entering open wounds during procedures. Ventilation systems play a crucial role in minimizing the risk of SSIs by controlling exposure to anesthetic gases, surgical smoke, and maintaining indoor air quality. A recent study evaluated the effectiveness of ventilation systems across 64 operating rooms in seven major hospitals to determine their impact on preventing SSIs.

Adherence to ventilation standards and guidelines is essential for preventing SSIs and maintaining indoor air quality in hospital operating rooms. A cross-sectional study using stratified random sampling analyzed various aspects of ventilation systems through a standardized checklist. Descriptive analysis, Kruskal-Wallis tests, parametric and non-parametric Item Response Theory (IRT), and cluster analysis were employed to assess data reliability and identify performance groups.

Hospitals with high scores in ventilation and air filter maintenance, such as H-4 (M = 25) and H-1 (M = 23), outperformed lower-scoring facilities like H-6 (M = 9.0). Subscale analysis revealed deficiencies in ventilation and air filtration systems in underperforming hospitals. Parametric IRT indicated high item discrimination for certain questions, while non-parametric IRT confirmed strong scalability of the assessment.

Despite the ongoing challenges in achieving a completely sterile surgical environment, ventilation systems serve critical functions in waste gas removal, surgical smoke control, and maintaining thermal comfort. Excessive warmth independently increases infection risk. Ventilation complements broader prevention strategies, including antibiotic prophylaxis, but airborne contamination remains a potential pathway for SSIs.

The study emphasizes the importance of regular assessments and targeted improvements in ventilation systems, particularly in underperforming settings. High-performing hospitals provide valuable benchmarks for identifying best practices to enhance infection control measures. Healthcare-associated infections, including SSIs, affect millions of patients worldwide each year, leading to substantial healthcare costs and mortality.

Addressing ventilation system effectiveness in public hospitals is crucial for reducing the burden of these preventable clinical conditions.