Authors: Tenzin Nyima, Stacey Rafteseth, Jennie Gardner, Abigail Mitchell.
Surgical site infections can be caused by a variety of contributing factors within the operating room. Microorganisms can be transmitted to the patient by health care personnel, the environment, or other items in the perioperative setting. This rapid review reviews the evidence used to support the recommendation that perioperative health care professionals should wear cloth surgical caps instead of disposable bouffant caps in the operating rooms. Although there is no conclusive evidence that wearing disposable over cloth caps changes the incidence of surgical site infections, there is evidence that shows using cloth caps, skullcaps, improves team communication, decreases carbon footprint, and decreases health care cost.
View/Download pdf