Background
Modern operating theatres are now highly regulated environments as the presence of microbial contamination can present a serious risk to patients undergoing surgery. Operating theatres employ various technologies including High Efficiency Particle Air (HEPA) filtration as well as clothing and hygiene practices designed to mitigate the risk of contamination.
The presence of microbial contamination in the air of operating theatres is known to have significant impact on the control of healthcare associated infections, and regular microbial monitoring can assess environmental quality and identify critical situations which require corrective intervention1. Typically, this is done by collecting air samples using settle plates or impactors. Both techniques require subsequent incubation of samples as well as lab testing and analysis.
A modern operating theatre
Customer Requirements
The customer involved is currently undertaking a number of innovative approaches to monitoring air quality and microbial contamination in the air of the operating theatre. Monitoring of particulates in the air, which are known to transport harmful bacteria, was possible using existing sensor technologies. Monitoring of microbial contamination was made possible using the LU45 Pathogen Detection system. The objective was to have a complete monitoring system to track all possible sources of contamination in the air.
Key Advantages of the LU45 for the customer
For the customer, the key advantages of the LU45 were twofold. Firstly, the system could alert staff at the earliest possible time of microbial contamination in the operating theatre so intensive decontamination procedures could be carried out.
Secondly, the system’s ability to communicate online, to the cloud based monitoring platform, allows the environment to be monitored externally, alongside any other on-site sensors, ensuring the surgical staff and environment are not disturbed during normal operating hours.
Configuration of System – Hardware
The LU45 operates using wireless technology which permitted a non-invasive installation of the sensor in the operating theatre. The sensor requires only a single power input to become operational, which allowed for a quick and easy installation in the theatre.
Outside the operating theatre a data gateway was installed which wirelessly receives data from the sensor, to which it pairs automatically. The data hub connects to the internet and is monitored via an online portal. This connection is normally via a standard Ethernet connection but in this case a GPRS connection was used to provide internet connectivity and ensure the installation could be carried out immediately.
Selection of Cartridge
After assessing the requirements of the customer, a broadband cartridge targeting bacteria, yeasts and mold was chosen. These cartridges are used to throw a wide net over analysing potential contaminants in an environment, an important feature we felt considering the sensitivity of the location. Although more specific targets may be chosen, understanding the environments general bio-load is an important step in contamination control.
Setup of Remote Monitoring
The customer manages the sensor via the NuWave Sensors online monitoring portal. Using their own login details they configure the sensor and have the ability to monitor multiple sensors in a single interface.
Once a cartridge is installed, and activated online, a system status is visible to users on login and should a pathogen be detected the status will change and the customer will be alerted by e-mail of the detection event.
LU45 Web Portal
In addition to the above management of the sensor, customers also have the ability to view and export an automatically generated cartridge test report which is created each time a cartridge concludes its monitoring cycle.
For more information on the LU45 please contact NuWave Sensors for information on distribution partners in your area:info@nuwavesensors.com