American journal of infection control
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Am J Infect Control · Oct 2018
Covering the instrument table decreases bacterial bioburden: An evaluation of environmental quality indicators.
Covering the instrument table during surgery may decrease contamination. We hypothesized that (1) covering the instrument table in an operating room (OR) during static periods of nonuse and dynamic periods of active use would dramatically decrease the bacterial bioburden on the table, and (2) the use of sterile plastic table covers would be equivalent to sterile impervious paper covers in reducing the bioburden in a dynamic environment. ⋯ A significant decrease in bacterial bioburden on the instrument table when the table was covered during static and dynamic periods was observed, suggesting the utility for covering the instrument table during periods of nonuse and during active surgeries.