TY - JOUR T1 - ENvironmental bacteriology in the unidirectional (horizontal) operating room AU - Nelson CL Y1 - 1979/07/01 N1 - 10.1001/archsurg.1979.01370310020004 JO - Archives of Surgery SP - 778 EP - 782 VL - 114 IS - 7 N2 - • The continuing attempts to reduce bacterial contamination through clean air systems have been of special interest to surgeons dealing in joint replacement surgery. Although the definitive relationship between airborne contamination and surgical infections is not universally agreed on, there is little question that clean air systems reduce bacterial contamination of the surgical wound at the time of operation. This report reviews the history of surgical infections, presents statistical data that show the reduction of bacterial contamination by a clean air system, and suggests a pragmatic attitude regarding airborne bacterial contamination of surgical wounds.(Arch Surg 114:778-782, 1979) SN - 0004-0010 M3 - doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1979.01370310020004 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.1979.01370310020004 ER -