Wake Forest University Health Sciences
The primary objective of this study is to determine whether surgical mask configuration policy-compliant (up or off ) versus mask dangling is associated with differences in bacterial contamination among unscrubbed operating room personnel at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital.
Maintaining a sterile operating room (OR) environment is a priority because it prevents surgical site infection (SSIs) and provides optimal patient outcomes. Due to this, infection prevention policies are implemented in perioperative practices and are designed to minimize the risk of microbial contamination during surgical procedures. There is a policy that requires unscrubbed OR personnel to have their mask either "up" in restricted areas or completely removing it "off" when moving to non-restricted areas. This "up or off" policy prohibits personnel from allowing their masks to hang around th…
Inclusion Criteria * Age 18 years or older * Employment in perioperative services * Routine use of surgical masks during clinical duties * Ability and willingness to comply with the assigned mask configuration Exclusion Criteria * Active respiratory infection or febrile illness at the time of participation. * Active facial or neck skin infection that could influence bacterial culture results. * Inability to safely wear a surgical mask. * Inability or unwillingness to comply with the assigned mask configuration or other study procedures.
mask if either being worn or off
mask dangling around neck when not being worn
Arctuva estimate
Actual pay is set by the research site.
Verify or correct the compensation shown for this listing.