People in the operating room wear PPE (personal protective equipment) to help prevent bacteria from infecting the surgical incision. This PPE includes the following:
A protective cap covering their hair
Masks over their lower face, covering their mouths and noses with minimal gaps to prevent inhalation of plume or airborne microbes
Shades or glasses over their eyes, including specialized colored glasses for use with different lasers. a fiber-optic headlight may be attached for greater visibility
Sterile gloves; usually latex-free due to latex sensitivity which affects some health care workers and patients
Long gowns, with the bottom of the gown no closer than six inches to the ground.
Protective covers on their shoes
If x-rays are expected to be used, lead aprons/neck covers are used to prevent overexposure to radiation
The surgeon may also wear special glasses that help him/her to see more clearly. The circulating nurse and anesthesiologist will not wear a gown in the OR because they are not a part of the sterile team. They must keep a distance of 12-16 inches from any sterile object, person, or field.
published 📅 February 2, 2022
