HVAC Operating room 2

[Jimhospital]

This question came up to me. Operating room in which a procedure was done using latex. A patient, who was allergic to latex need to go in the room. How long would they have to wait before the room 24x24x9 with 15 air changes per hour was replenished with air..

 

[Xera]

Theoretically 4 minutes. The air is replaced every four minutes. Assuming that the air is not recycled.

 

[MintJulep]

And assuming that the air exchange efficacy is 100% - which it certainly will not be.

And assuming that no latex has settled to the floor only to get stirred up when the new patient enters.

But is airborne transmission of latex really a threat?

 

[DRWeig]

Old hospital engineering director here.

Yes, airboorne latex can be a problem for those allergic in an operating room. Without the protection that their skin provides (because of the surgical opening), the reaction can be severe.

Xera is right about the air exchange rate, and I agree with Mint that you need longer due to air change efficacy.

The nurses running the OR where I worked would typically assign any such cases to a room known to have had no latex for 24 hours, and to have also been through terminal cleaning (everything rinsed, dried, then sterilized with a bleach solution and wet-cleaned again). Any latex that settled on floor or equipment would be removed by the terminal cleaning procedures.

24 hours is probably overkill, but overkill is better than an allergic reaction by someone under anesthesia with their insides exposed. My opinion would be that it's OK to enter after the cleaning process is done and the room is dry, but the medical safety folks are, justifiably, the ones who decide.

Good on ya,

Goober Dave