Contamination rate of operating room boots in the operating theater of Twohid hospital, sanandaj, Iran, in September 2005

This study was conducted to compare the differences of contamination rates between operating room boots in sterile and semi-sterile parts of the operating room and the necessity of replacing boots in the distance between these parts in Tohid Hospital in Sanandaj city. The study sample included all boots used in the operating room of Tohid Hospital. Sampling method was census. Sample cultures were taken from the boots at the end of four consecutive days. A total of 160 samples were obtained from sterile and 160 samples from the semi-sterile parts. The culture media were examined after 24 hour and colonies grown on them were counted. Independent t-test and chi square test were used for data analysis. 73.7% of the boots in the sterile and 74.9% of boots in the semi-sterile parts were contaminated. The mean number of colonies grown in sterile and semi sterile parts were 22543.97 (SD 41865.67) and 29494.36 (SD 45614.32) respectively which showed no significant differences (P>0.05). There was a significant difference in the severity of contamination between the two parts (p<0.05). Considering the high contamination rate of the boots in both sterile and semi sterile parts, washing style and/or the detergents solution used for washing lack considerable disinfectant efficacy which should be replaced properly. There were not significant differences between the mean numbers of the colonies grown in the two parts. The severity of contamination between the two parts showed a significant difference, therefore it can be concluded that replacing boots in the distance between the two parts has no effect on prevention of spreading contamination in the environment.