The Health Area of Ibiza and Formentera has confirmed that this Monday the disinfection works of the operating room and delivery room of the Hospital de Formentera have been completed, closed after detecting abnormal levels of microorganisms. According to the Pitiusa Health Area, samples have been taken this Monday and in two days the preliminary results will be known. Specifically, the air conditioning system and the operating room and delivery room have been checked and disinfected to eliminate environmental microorganisms that exceeded the recommended thresholds in a surgical area that requires exceptional aseptic conditions. To guarantee patient safety and as a preventive measure, both the operating room and the delivery room will remain closed until optimal conditions are ensured. After the preliminary results are known, the Infection Control Unit, the Microbiology Service, the medical and nursing management and the sub-directorate of management of the Hospital de Formentera will meet again to take a decision regarding the recovery of the activity. This was confirmed in statements to the media by the Infection Control Nurse of the Pitiusa Health Area, Catalina Serra. As she explained, during the weekend there have been no urgent transfers from Formentera to Can Misses Hospital and the scheduled sanitization of the spaces is being completed. Subsequently, as planned, several controls will be carried out, the results of which will determine the next steps to be taken. For the moment, it has not been necessary to transfer any patient due to urgent surgery or the risk of childbirth. Likewise, no further interventions will have to be rescheduled since there are no operations scheduled until next week. Although the pathogen detected is common in any area, its presence must be combated in an operating room, as the nurse insisted. “It can be a consequence of many things and that is why we have gone to look at everything: the climates, the filters or to have more control of uniforms or footwear,” the nurse explained. As she reiterated, patient safety“is vital“, so they have tried to minimize risks.
Closing of spaces
The Infection Control Unit, together with the Microbiology Service, verified last week values of certain microorganisms in a density above the recommended thresholds. In October, the Microbiological Control Service had performed another environmental analysis in the surgical area of the Hospital de Formentera, resulting in levels suitable for surgical activity. Following the recommendations of the Infection Control Unit of the Pitiusa Health Area and the Microbiology Service, the Management took the decision to carry out a thorough cleaning of the operating rooms and to take the usual preventive measures, such as circulation, proper use of footwear and clothing. It was also activated with the surgical services of the Hospital Can Misses the possible referral of urgent surgical interventions.
