Sterileair isan indispensablerequirement for thesmooth functioning ofan ophthalmic operation theatre(OT). Unsterileair has been believed to bea majorcause of outbreaks of post-surgicalinfections. Outbreaks offungaland even bacterialendophthalmitis have been reported wherecontaminated air was believed to bethe majorcause.[1],[2] Unattended airconditioning and humidifying unitsare often culprits. Positive pressurefiltered air should be delivered vertically down to the OT table.[3] Sterileaircan be obtained with the help of high efficiency particulateair (HEPA)filters, laminarair flowsystem(LAF),aircurtainsand UVirradiation.[4] HEPAfilters trap 99.97%of particulate ofsize 0.3 micron (μ). Theyachievethis by various mechanisms like direct impaction, sieving, interception and diffusion. Mostmicrobesarein range of 0.5 to 5 μ in size. LAFprovide unidirectionalair flowtowards OT table with around 300 airchanges per hour. LAF avoidsany turbulentair flowor swirls which depositsparticulate dirt in arandommanner. Proper positioning ofsurgicalequipment, tables,etc. should be donefor optimalfunctioning.
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