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R Meierhans

Publications and source records attributed to R Meierhans.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

[The bacteria stop system of Meierhans-Weber as room air technical alternative to laminar-air-flow and its air hygienic effectiveness].

Statistics of wound infections demonstrate the linear dependence between postoperative wound infection and the quantity of bacteria in the air of operating theatres. In the most extensive examination series we have made as yet with a special work group of DGOT the quantity of bacteria in the air of non air-conditioned operating theatres and such fitted out with different aircleaning systems was determined. Non air-conditioned operating theatres proved so extremely infected that the risk of wound infection cannot be borne any more in the future. Also air-conditioned systems according to DIN 1946/4 with an average of 190 bacteria/m3 are not sufficiently secure for bone and joint surgery. In Switzerland for such operations a value of 10/m3 at the most is admissible. Such equivalents have been attained only with LAF until today. After extensive air tests the so-called "Keimstop"-system by Meierhans and Weber is to be considered the sole system suitable to supplement air conditioning DIN 1946/4. This combination yields the same effect as the expensive LAF systems.

Air Conditioning↗

[Optimum utilization of the ventilation system to reduce airborne bacteria in operating rooms].

In 4 operating theatres with 4 different air-conditioning equipments, the number of bacteria per m3 circulating air in the neighbourhood of the open wound has been investigated. The testing has been performed on comparable aseptic operations. The worst results were obtained in 2 conventional theatres, equipped with a modern-up-to-date air-conditioning. The number of bacteria was ranging between 230 and 270 per m3. A much better results was obtained in a theatre, equipped with a so-called germ-stop-wall, dividing the theatre into 2 sections, separating the surgical team and the open wound completely from the anaesthesist and other staff. With this arrangement, 45 germs per m3 were found. The best result with no bacteria at all is present in a vertical flow-enclosure with an exchange rate of 32 per hour. According to our 10-year experience, for aseptic surgery sterile air techniques should be adopted to improve asepsis and to decrease the risk of postoperative infection.

Air Conditioning↗