Balancing Sustainability and Safety: Reducing HVAC Air Exchange Rates in Operating Rooms Without Increasing Infection Risk

In brief

This study examines reducing energy-intensive HVAC air exchange rates in operating rooms to improve environmental sustainability while maintaining patient safety through surgical site infection monitoring. The research addresses healthcare's environmental impact by optimizing OR ventilation systems without compromising infection control standards.

• Operating rooms are the most energy-intensive hospital areas, with HVAC systems as major contributors to environmental burden.
• High air exchange rates in OR HVAC systems can be reduced without compromising surgical site infection prevention.
• Balancing sustainability initiatives with patient safety metrics like SSI rates is feasible in perioperative settings.
• Energy reduction strategies in ORs must be evaluated against infection control outcomes to ensure patient safety.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.