fecting rooms at the end of the day, such as robots that employ ultra-
violet light or hydrogen peroxide vapor. Remember that these tech-
nologies are not effective if debris or thick biofilm remain on surfaces.
Therefore, make sure you're using these new technologies in addition
to, not in place of, a thorough cleaning and scrubbing of the OR.
Ultimately, incorporating multiple interventions — pre-op shower-
ing, surface disinfection and proper hand hygiene — is key to a suc-
cessful MRSA prevention protocol, says Dr. Kavanagh. He points out
that many of these practices are also required to prevent the spread of
several known pathogens like C. diff (although screening is not cur-
rently recommended, carriers do contribute to transmission) and
CRE, the latter being poised to become a significant worry in the
healthcare setting.
The best infection control practices include several layers of preven-
tative measures, according to Dr. Kavanagh, who adds, "Once you
have effective protocols in place, you'll be better prepared to deal
with all of the dangerous pathogens that threaten your patients and
staff."
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