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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Supplies and equipment are open. The mask should cover the mouth and the nose at all times. When leaving the restricted area, the staff member should remove the mask and discard it in the trash, followed by hand sanitizing. In many facilities, the surgical mask is left hanging around the neck. This is an infection control issue. The staff can assist each other with compliance by reminding each other to remove any mask forgotten around a neck. This is a practice that goes way back and old habits are hard to break.6. Keep unnecessary items out of restricted areas. Backpacks, brief cases and fanny packs made of porous material harbor bacteria and microbes. These should not be brought into an OR. If fanny packs and medication boxes are used by anesthesia they should be made of a non-porous material and should be thoroughly wiped down and disinfected before entering each case. Fanny packs are not recommended because they are difficult to wipe down and they come in contact with so many different surfaces.It is recommended that minimal jewelry be worn by perioperative staff. AORN states that jewelry can be worn if it is contained in the surgical attire. It's important for OR staff to realize that bacteria found under rings is nine times greater than other areas and may become colonized.***As you work towards best practice by updating policy and procedure and implementing changes at your center, you have and most likely will continue to encounter resistance. Being prepared to show practice recommendations from expert sources such as AORN, APIC, CDC and ASCA may be helpful. Keep in mind that you have the ability to mandate proper attire be worn by all facility staff. The administrator, medical director and the board of managers can also assist with encouraging and enforcing physician participation. Change is always difficult but we are obligated to be patient advocates and to always do what is right according to the evidence that’s available to us.Please feel free to contact me (kbernicky@regentsurgicalhealth.com) if you have any questions or would like a copy of an audit tool you
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