[The safety of patients and staff in the operating room].

The risk of postoperative infection is determined by a number of factors including the underlying health of the patient, the type of surgery and the environment in which the procedure take place. The predominant infective organisms are Staphylococci. Coagulase-negative staphylococci are regarded as emerging pathogens, especially in clean surgery. The operating team is the major source of the contaminated bacteria. Bacteria dispersed from the skin is of greater importance than bacteria from the respiratory tract, so masks are not always necessary in the theatre during an operation except by those at the table. Masks that function as protective barriers are another emerging issue. Due to a greater awareness of HIV and other blood-borne viruses, masks are taking on a greater role in protection health care workers from potentially infectious blood and body fluids. Bloodborne infection pose a large risk to healthcare workers. The incidence of occupational HBV infection has decline as a result of vaccine-induced immunity. Future vaccines against HIV and HCV would be a boon to healthcare workers.