DOI
https://doi.org/10.18849/ve.v9i4.690Abstract
Question
In small animals undergoing theatre-based surgical procedures does having all theatre personnel masked, compared with not having all theatre personnel masked, result in a reduced incidence of surgical site infections?
Clinical bottom line
The category of research question was:
Incidence.
The number and type of study designs that were critically appraised were:
Zero. No records relevant to the PICO question were retrieved from the literature search.
Critical appraisal of the selected papers meeting the inclusion criteria collectively provide zero/weak/moderate/strong evidence in terms of their experimental design and implementation:
Zero.
The outcomes reported are summarised as follows…
There is no published evidence specific to small animals that assesses the effect of wearing facemasks during surgical procedures on the rate of postoperative surgical site infections.
In view of the strength of evidence and the outcomes from the studies the following conclusion is made…
In small animals undergoing theatre-based surgical procedures, there is no published evidence evaluating the effect of having all theatre personnel masked compared with not having all theatre personnel masked on the incidence of surgical site infections. However, this lack of evidence should not be interpreted as lack of efficacy.
References
Alwitry, A., Jackson, E., Chen, H. & Holden, R. (2002). The use of surgical facemasks during cataract surgery: is it necessary? British Journal of Ophthalmology. 86(9), 975–977. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjo.86.9.975
Berger, S.A., Kramer, M., Nagar, H., Finkelstein, A., Frimmerman, A. & Miller, H.I. (1993). Effect of surgical mask position on bacterial contamination of the operative field. The Journal of Hospital Infection. 23(1), 51–54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0195-6701(93)90130-r
Bhutta, M.F. (2021). Our over-reliance on single-use equipment in the operating theatre is misguided, irrational and harming our planet. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. 103(10), 709–712. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2021.0297
Burdick, H.N. & Maibach, H. (2021). Clinical relevance of masks in the operating room? A systematic review. Clinical Infection in Practice. 12, 100087. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinpr.2021.100087
Da Zhou, C., Sivathondan, P. & Handa, A. (2015). Unmasking the surgeons: the evidence base behind the use of facemasks in surgery. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 108(6), 223–228. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0141076815583167
Davies, C.G, Khan, M.N, Ghauri, A. & Ranaboldo, C.J. (2007). Blood and Body Fluid Splashes During Surgery – The Need for Eye Protection and Masks. Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England. 89(8), 770–772. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1308/003588407X209301
Fraser, J.A., Briggs, K.B., Svetanoff, W.J., Rentea, R.M., Aguayo, P., Juang, D., Fraser, J.D., Snyder, C.L., Hendrickson, R.J., St. Peter, S.D. & Oyetunji, T.A. (2022). Behind the mask: extended use of surgical masks is not associated with increased risk of surgical site infection. Pediatric Surgery International. 38(2), 325–330. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-021-05032-8
Malhotra, G.K., Tran, T., Stewart, C., Battey, H., Tegtmeier, B., McNeese, K., Flood, A., Melstrom, L. & Fong, Y. (2022). Pandemic Operating Room Supply Shortage and Surgical Site Infection: Considerations as We Emerge from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 234(4), 571–578. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/XCS.0000000000000087
Marson, B.A., Craxford, S., Valdes, A.M. & Ollivere, B.J. (2020). Are facemasks a priority for all staff in theatre to prevent surgical site infections during shortages of supply? A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Surgeon. 19(5), e132–e139. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surge.2020.08.014
National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE). (2013). Quality statement 4: Intraoperative staff practices, [online]. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs49/chapter/quality-statement-4-intraoperative-staff-practices [Accessed 22 Nov 2023].
Rizan, C., Lillywhite, R., Reed, M., & Bhutta, M.F. (2023). The carbon footprint of products used in five common surgical operations: identifying contributing products and processes. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 116(6), 199–213. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/01410768231166135
Vasanthakumar, M. (2019). Reducing Veterinary Waste: Surgical Site Infection Risk and the Ecological Impact of Woven and Disposable Drapes. Veterinary Evidence. 4(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.18849/ve.v4i3.251
Webster, J., Croger, S., Lister, C., Doidge, M., Terry, M.J. & Jones, I. (2010). Use of face masks by non-scrubbed operating room staff: a randomized controlled trial. ANZ journal of surgery. 80(3), 169–173. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1445-2197.2009.05200.x
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Alexander Bartlett
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Veterinary Evidence uses the Creative Commons copyright Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. That means users are free to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format. Remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially - with the appropriate citation.