Techniques and clinical effect of aseptic procedures on patients with acute leukemia in laminar airflow rooms.

The techniques of aseptic procedures in the laminar airflow room (LAF) were evaluated in 110 adult patients undergoing antileukemic chemotherapy for remission induction. The patients were divided into three groups according to the regimens: Group A, consisting of 20 patients who stayed in the LAF and received the gown technique + sterile food + prophylactic oral and topical antibiotics; Group B, consisting of 12 patients who stayed in the LAF and received sterile food + prophylactic oral antibiotics; and Group C, consisting of 78 patients in open wards, who received prophylactic oral antibiotics alone. Species and numbers of microorganisms on the skin surface were far less in the patients in Group A than in those in Group B. Airborne microorganisms were counted by the air sampling method. No microorganisms could be detected at the time of the patient's rest and of blood collection in either Group A or B. Electrocardiography and X-ray examination caused an increase in the number of colonies to more than one colony in Group B, but Group A had a count of less than 0.5 colony. The colony counts became negative within 5 min after the cessation of each operation. The percentage of febrile days for patients with a peripheral granulocyte count of less than 100/microliter was 29% in Group A, 21% in Group B and 44% in Group C. The incidence of documented infections during the total hospital stay was 25% (5/20), 42% (5/12) and 86% (67/78), respectively. The aseptic procedures in Group B were not as strict as in Group A, but the incidence of infections in Group B was significantly lower than in Group C.