Electronic particle counting for evaluating the quality of air in operating theatres: a potential basis for standards?

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Abstract
Airborne particle counting in eight size ranges (0.5 → 20 μm), by computerized electronic equipment, was compared with the numbers of bacteria‐carrying particles (BCP) assessed by slit sampling in ultra‐clean and turbulently ventilated operating theatres. In the ultra‐clean theatre the number of particles of 5–7 μm size range correlated with BCP while peaks in the numbers of particles 15 μm corresponded with activity. Comparative relationships also occurred in the turbulently ventilated theatre but the use of this equipment in that environment cannot yet replace counts of airborne bacteria. We consider that electronic particle counting in the 0–20 μm size range may be used to judge the performance of a clean air operating theatre distribution system, including efficiency and integrity of the filter/seal systems and the presence or absence of entrainment of bacteria and other particles. The sampling techniques and analysis of particle concentration results described here may be a suitable basis for standards.