Reducing Surgical Site Infections: Anesthesia Work Area Contamination is a Major Factor

Surgical fields are meticulously prepared to maintain sterility, with sterile instruments, gowns, and gloves. Despite these measures, multicenter clinical trials have shown that the rate of postoperative surgical site infections is between 6% to 7%. Recent randomized clinical trials in anesthesia, conducted between 2021 to 2022, have focused on these infections. Where do these infections stem from? Surgical gloves are not the source, as research showed that glove contamination did not translate to surgical site infections. Instead, research suggests that anesthesia work areas are the epicenter of many surgical site infections. Factors such as patient skin sites, anesthesia provider hands, and anesthesia machines and carts can contribute to pathogen transmission. One recent example showed how Staphylococcus aureus was transmitted in an anesthesia work area, leading to infection in multiple patients. S. aureus is particularly problematic because it can develop resistance to prophylactic antibiotics, leading to an increased risk of surgical site infection. To prevent transmission of pathogens, recommendations include decolonizing the patient’s nose and groin, convenient placement of hand antiseptic, disinfecting the anesthesia machine, and targeting the use of ultraviolet-C disinfection. Anesthesia teams can play a vital role in preventing pathogen transmission and reducing the incidence of surgical site infections.