Why Are Operating Rooms Cold With Low Humidity

Operating rooms are some of the coldest areas in a hospital usually around 65 69 with a humidity of 70 to keep the risk of infection at a minimum.

Why are operating rooms cold with low humidity.

To acutely decrease the rh level of an operating room one can either remove water vapor or increase temperature it is unlikely that one would increase the atmospheric pressure. Share this advisory with your chief operating. However as it is becoming better understood that temperature is an important factor used to prevent infection this is being addressed. Many people including some operating room personnel are surprised to learn these facts as it has been thought by many people that cold rooms prevent infection.

When moisture condenses on the operating tools it encourages the growth of bacteria that leads to contamination. Cold operating rooms have a higher rh than do warm operating rooms with the same absolute humidity figure 1. Equipment made of metal can also rust rendering them inappropriate for use in the emergency room. To keep the operating tools safe another reason why the rooms are so cold is to keep the operating tools in good condition.

Many supplies can be used outside of the minimum humidity requirements but should not be stored for long periods in low humidity conditions. The maintenance of the required level of relative humidity rh in the operating room or has been essential to control the growth of microorganisms prevent electrostatic discharge esd and comfort of the or team. Too cold is also bad hypothermic patients are more likely to get wound infections. Low temperatures and low humidity are needed in order to prevent microbial growth.

Humidity and temperature from a single or over 2 months. What has been determined is that a low humidity level can adversely impact equipment supplies and shelf life. Regarding establishing humidity levels in the or per hdo protocols. Health care facilities should consider the effects on equipment and or supplies before reducing operating room relative humidity below 30 percent.

These temperature recommendations come from the american society of heating refrigeration and air conditioning engineers also referred to as ashrae.