Surgical Attire Guideline Adherence (Surgical, Perioperative Zones)

Guidelines:

• All persons entering the semi-restricted and restricted areas of the surgical suite should wear clean, facility-laundered surgical attire
• Purpose: To reduce bacterial and skin shedding and promote environmental control and cleanliness
• Perioperative Zones:
  • Unrestricted = Outside the surgical suite
  • Semi-restricted = Peripheral support areas within surgical suite
  • Restricted = OR, procedure rooms, central core, scrub sink area

Considerations:

• In semi-restricted and restricted areas:
• Proper surgical attire consists of:
  • Two-piece pantsuit, a scrub dress, or a one-piece coverall suit.
  • Surgical hat/hood
  • Single high-filtration surgical masks
  • Shoe covers (optional)
  • Jacket (optional)
• Organization surgical attire policies should be based on OSHA regulations to prevent transmission of organisms from patient to personnel to the community

Nurse’s role:

• Strict adherence to surgical attire guidelines
  • Wear clean surgical attire in the semi-restricted and restricted areas
  • Launder attire at health care-accredited laundry facility or at the health care organization in accordance with state regulatory requirements each daily use
  • Change surgical attire when soiled
  • Remove surgical attire before leaving facility
  • Reduces potential for pathogenic microorganism transport from facility into home or community
• Knowledge of organizational policies, OSHA regulations, and AORN guidelines

Pitfalls:

• Surgical attire must be changed when soiled
• All jewelry should be confined within scrub attire or removed when entering the semi-restricted or restricted areas of the
  surgical suite.
• Artificial nails should not be worn
• All head and facial hair should be covered.

Examples:

• N/A

Linchpins (Key Points):

• People = Major source of bacteria in the surgical setting
• Organizational policy = based on OSHA regulations and AORN guidelines
• OSHA = Worker safety
• AORN Guidelines = recommendations based on evidence