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.