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OT Microbiological Surveillance Panel Bacterial & Fungal - 5 swabs
Bacterial/ Viral
Report in 72Hrs
At Home
No Fasting Required
Details
Swab test for OT sterility.
₹2,590₹3,700
30% OFF
OT Microbiological Surveillance Panel Bacterial & Fungal - 5 swabs
- Why is it done?
- Environmental monitoring in operating theaters to detect the presence of pathogenic bacteria and fungi that could compromise surgical site safety
- Assessment of operating room air quality and sterility standards to ensure compliance with regulatory and infection control guidelines
- Identification of contamination sources and potential nosocomial infection risks in perioperative environments
- Routine surveillance and quality assurance of operating room environmental controls, including HVAC systems and sterilization protocols
- Investigation following potential contamination events or surgical site infection clusters to identify environmental sources
- Periodic validation of cleaning and disinfection procedures used in surgical areas
- Normal Range
- Expected Result: No growth or absence of pathogenic bacteria and fungi (Negative)
- Acceptable Limits: Colony Forming Units (CFUs) ≤10 CFU/plate for bacterial samples; ≤5 CFU/plate for fungal samples in compliant operating room environments
- Units of Measurement: Colony Forming Units per culture plate (CFU), qualitative presence/absence
- Interpretation: Normal results indicate adequate environmental controls, effective sterilization procedures, and compliance with infection prevention standards. Any detected growth requires investigation and corrective action.
- Interpretation
- Negative Results (No Growth): Indicates satisfactory environmental conditions, proper cleaning and sterilization protocols, and low risk of environmental contamination to surgical patients. Operating room is suitable for performing surgeries.
- Positive Results (Growth Detected): Indicates environmental contamination requiring immediate investigation. May suggest inadequate air handling, improper cleaning, or compromised sterilization. Depending on organism identification and CFU counts, may warrant corrective maintenance and operational suspension.
- Bacterial Contamination (Positive): Detection of gram-positive cocci (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus species), gram-negative rods, or other pathogenic bacteria suggests inadequate environmental protection. High counts increase surgical site infection risk.
- Fungal Contamination (Positive): Detection of Candida species, Aspergillus, or other fungi indicates potential HVAC deficiencies or environmental moisture issues. Fungal contamination is particularly concerning for immunocompromised patients.
- Factors Affecting Results: HVAC performance, room traffic and personnel activities, construction or renovation work nearby, cleaning effectiveness, swab collection technique, culture media quality, incubation conditions, and timing of surveillance relative to room use.
- Clinical Significance: This test serves as a quality assurance tool for operating room safety. Positive results directly correlate with increased surgical site infection risk, necessitating immediate corrective actions including equipment servicing, enhanced cleaning protocols, and possible temporary room closure.
- Associated Organs/Systems
- Primary Systems Monitored: Operating room environment; HVAC systems; sterilization equipment; wound healing and immune system integrity in surgical patients
- Associated Conditions from Positive Results: Surgical Site Infections (SSI), including superficial, deep, and organ/space infections; nosocomial infections; sepsis; wound complications; prosthetic joint infections; cardiac device infections; vascular graft infections
- Diseases Monitored: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), bacteremia, fungemia, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), septic shock, organ dysfunction secondary to environmental contamination
- Potential Complications from Contamination: Increased morbidity and mortality rates, prolonged hospitalization, additional antibiotic therapy, reoperation for infection management, prosthetic material removal, organ failure, sepsis, immunocompromise complications, and significant healthcare costs
- Follow-up Tests
- If Positive Results Detected: Repeat OT microbiological surveillance cultures after corrective actions to verify remediation; repeat air quality sampling; environmental surface cultures from high-touch areas and equipment; HVAC performance testing and filter integrity assessment
- Supplementary Environmental Investigations: Particle count monitoring (viable and non-viable); steam sterilizer biological and chemical indicator testing; autoclave performance validation; equipment surface swabs and cultures; personnel hygiene and competency assessments
- Patient-Related Follow-up: Post-operative wound cultures if SSI suspected; blood cultures if bacteremia/fungemia concerns; imaging studies (CT, MRI, ultrasound) for deep infections; microbial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing; epidemiological investigation linking patient infections to environmental contamination
- Monitoring Frequency: Routine surveillance typically monthly; increased frequency during investigation phases; quarterly after remediation; immediately following maintenance work, construction, or contamination events; ongoing compliance monitoring per ISO 14644 and facility protocols
- Complementary Tests: Environmental chemistry monitoring (formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde residues); humidity and temperature logs; pressure differential verification; smoke studies for air flow patterns; ATP bioluminescence for surface cleanliness assessment
- Fasting Required?
- Fasting Required: No - This is an environmental surveillance test, not a patient specimen test. Fasting does not apply.
- Patient Preparation: Not applicable for environmental sampling. However, operating room must be at standard operating conditions during surveillance: normal ambient temperature (18-25°C), normal humidity levels (30-60%), standard room traffic and HVAC operation.
- Sample Collection Preparation: Five sterile swabs are collected from predetermined environmental sites within operating room (walls, air intake grilles, equipment surfaces, lights, surgical tables). Collection performed using sterile technique to prevent contamination. Swabs placed in sterile transport media and kept at room temperature. Laboratory notification regarding collection timing and operating room conditions.
- Special Instructions: Collect samples during routine operating room operations with normal traffic; note any recent cleaning, maintenance, or construction activities; document room usage history; provide HVAC status information; specify collection sites for consistency; ensure samples delivered to laboratory within 2 hours of collection; coordinate with infection prevention and housekeeping departments.
How our test process works!
