The CDC's recommendations to clean high-touch areas more frequently than minimal-touch surfaces do not include surfaces in the operating room, so researchers conducted a study to identify high-touch areas in the OR and their level of contamination.
The study was published in the American Journal of Infection Control. The authors of the study used culturing to determine the contamination levels of each surface.
The five primary high-touch OR surfaces identified are listed below.
1. Anesthesia computer mouse
2. OR bed
3. Nurse computer mouse
4. OR door
5. Anesthesia medical cart
"Based on information and data collected in this study, it is recommended that an enhanced cleaning protocol be established based on the most frequently touched surfaces in the operating room," according to the study.
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