Operating Room Temperature And Humidity

Cold operating rooms have a higher rh than do warm operating rooms with the same absolute humidity figure 1.

Operating room temperature and humidity.

Temperature humidity and airflow in the operating rooms must be maintained within acceptable standards to inhibit bacterial growth and prevent infection and promote patient comfort. The design requirements for these parameters in healhtcare settings are defined by ashrae standard 170 and are generally straightforward however or operating room users often try to operate or hvac heating ventilating and air conditioning systems at temperatures and humidity levels. Currently ashrae ashe standard 170 2017 ventilation of health care facilities defines the minimum relative humidity rh level for an operating room as 20 and the maximum level as 60. Organizations should determine the appropriate temperature and humidity and ventilation parameters based on the design criteria at the time of construction see also the note in ec 02 05 01 ep 15 for new renovated or altered spaces organizations that use the joint commission for deemed status purposes must use ashrae 170 2008 as.

Operating rooms have visual alerts in a central location when the or air temperature or humidity is out of the parameter range but these alerts are on. Health care facilities should consider the effects on equipment and or supplies before reducing operating room relative humidity below 30 percent. What are the recommended humidity ranges for an operating room. While published guidelines are applicable to all.

To acutely decrease the rh level of an operating room one can either remove water vapor or increase temperature it is unlikely that one would increase the atmospheric pressure. Regarding establishing humidity levels in the or per hdo protocols. Access to this content requires a subscription. For example if a room is 68 f with 60 relative humidity within parameter range and you drop the temperature to 64 f the relative humidity will rise to 68 out of parameter range.

The maintenance of the required level of relative humidity rh in the operating room or has been essential to control the growth of microorganisms prevent electrostatic discharge esd and comfort of the or team. Share this advisory with your chief operating. Each operating room should have separate temperature control. Proper ventilation airflow temperature and humidity are needed for successful surgical operations.

Acceptable standards such as from the association of operating room nurses aorn or the facilities guidelines institute. Excessive humidity in the operating room is conducive to bacterial growth and compromises the integrity of wrapped sterile instruments and supplies. Percent or less as excessive humidity is conducive to microbial growth and compromises the integrity of wrapped sterile instruments and supplies.