Personnel and textiles as a source of particles in an operating theatre

In this paper we have studied people as a contamination source in an operating theatre by simulating an "operating body box" and evaluating the concentration of airborne particles (> 0,3 mikro m) and the electrostatic charge accumulation. The linting property and the contact potential were measured when a nursy was spreading out surgical drapes on a patient. The studied garments and drapes were: - Cotton / Polyester work cloths, disposable surgical gowns and drapes - Polyester microfibre work cloths, polyester microfibre surgical gowns and drapes - Polyester clean air suits, polyester microfibre surgical gowns and drapes. The measurements were made using conductive and normal nonconductive footwear. On the basis of the results the amounts of releasing particles vary considerably depending on the material combinations. The clean air suits prevent the most effective the releasing particles coming from movable human person into the surrounding room. The highest electrostatic charge levels were measured on a person with microfibre textile cloths and drapes.