Study: Covering sterile goods reduces bacterial infection

Using sterile covers to protect sterile surgical goods from bacterial air contamination while waiting for an operation to begin showed no increased bacterial air contamination after 15 hours, according to a randomized controlled trial. However, bacterial air contamination occurred over time when sterile good were not covered, with Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermis the most common contaminating bacteria type. Of the drug-resistant Staphylococcus epidermis isolates, 46% were multidrug resistant, the study found. The American Journal of Infection Control published the study, which included data from 70 open-heart surgeries. (American Journal of Infection Control study, 12/16/24)