Reduction of bacterial contamination should be a primary focus of all members of the operating room team.
Infection rates for total joint arthroplasties have been shown to correlate with operating room environmental contamination [1].
However, there has been a decline in the emphasis of the basic principles of antisepsis since the introduction of
clean-air technology in many operating rooms [2].
Proper sterilization of instruments, careful preparation of the operative site,
avoidance of contact with objects outside the sterile field, and maintenance of
fundamental aseptic protocols are all essential to
minimize infection rates. The purpose of this review
is to highlight important considerations for optimizing
the operating room environment.