Bacteriology of the operating room with the use of helmet aspiration systems.

The bacteriology of the operating room with the use of the helmet-aspirator system has been discussed. The surgical team predictably contaminates the operating room. Current cotton gowns worn loosely about the neck do not serve as effective barriers to bacterial penetration. Barrier draping of the surgical team is possible with impervious materials, but requires the use of a helmet-aspirator system to dissipate the heat and particulate debris. These are commercially available and their use has been shown to decrease colony-forming particles, decrease wound contamination, and decrease wound infection. Barrier draping of the surgical team through the helmet-aspirator system is effective and is to be recommended for infection-prone cases.