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Biomedical subjects

P Lynam

Publications and source records attributed to P Lynam.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Risk of airborne transmission in an operating theatre containing four ultraclean air units.

This study shows that a single, large, operating theatre (barn) containing four ultraclean operating units (cabins), was highly effective in reducing the number of airborne bacteria in the operating fields providing all occupied ultraclean cabins were functioning correctly. The air flows and bacterial counts during operations within the cabins met the current standard for ultraclean systems (HTM 2025 1994) and there was no evidence of mixing of air between cabins. It is, however, recommended that air flows are regularly checked for compliance with the standard. If failure occurs in any single ultraclean unit, surgery in that cabin should cease as contaminated air may enter from the barn and surrounding cabins. Routine microbiological sampling should not be necessary providing there is no evidence of filter leakage. An operating theatre with several ultraclean operating tables in a single room would appear to be a viable proposition for the future. Considerable savings are likely in revenue costs as much of the air is reused and support services are shared.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Using self-assessment to improve the quality of family planning clinic services.

A follow-up study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a self-assessment technique called COPE (client-oriented, provider-efficient) on the quality of family planning clinic operations in Africa. In 1991 the Association for Voluntary Surgical Contraception revisited 11 clinics where it had introduced COPE from five to 15 months earlier. Changes that had occurred as a result of the COPE intervention were assessed by (1) determining how many of the clinic problems identified by staff at the COPE introduction had been solved; (2) comparing the results of a second client-flow analysis with the initial analysis; and (3) interviewing service providers to obtain their opinions of the effects of COPE. Of the problems identified by staff nearly three-fourths of those that could be solved internally were solved. The study revealed improvements in the quality of care provided as well as increased staff involvement in solving clinic problems.

Africa↗