Ultraviolet radiation and air contamination during total hip replacement.

Ultraviolet (uv) radiation of the operating room was assessed bacteriologically in an open randomized study of 30 total hip procedures. Volumetric air-sampling demonstrated that the number of colony forming units (cfu m-3) were significantly reduced (P less than 0.001) by uv light, both close to the wound and in the periphery of the operating room. No adverse effects of the uv-irradiation were observed either in the patients or the staff. In operating rooms fitted with a 'zonal ventilation' system and with an air change rate of about 70 h-1, the addition of uv irradiation during surgery may achieve 'ultra clean' air. However, in conventionally ventilated operating rooms uv-irradiation alone is probably not sufficient to do so.