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SWITCHING TO REUSABLE THEATRE CAPS Mruga Diwan Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation TrustDisposables ► In the theatre complex, staff are required to wear theatre caps ► Most units across the country use disposable ones ► Significant environmental disadvantage ► Average 20 theatre department uses more than 100,000 caps per yearThe Harsh Reality… ► Depletion of natural forests ► Basic constituent is “viscose”- derived from wood ► Chemicals used- associated with chronic skin and heart conditions, and have been linked to cancerDiscussions ► Infection control ► Procurement ► Management : figures , annual costs , savingsReusables ► Warwick Med to the rescue ► Support sought from Infection control- literature evidence to support no increase in SSIs ► Long conversations around design, style and getting rid of latex ► Names and roles with colour codingThe Bottom Line ► Its always comes down to MONEY ► Annual cost of disposables in our trust prior to merge = £25,000 ► Average spend on reusables projected at £21,000 with a shelf life of 3 to 4 years- ongoing spend will always be there ► Average saving over a 3 yr period projected to be around £50,000► Initial go ahead for the Anaesthetic Consultants ► Now being rolled out to all permanent staff members ► Feedback has been positive ► Better communication, team work, patient safety factors, and helps allay anxiety ► Superseded inconvenience of personal launderingIn Conclusion… ► LUHFT has reduced waste and excess cost by switching to reusable, less carbon-intensive caps ► Definite positive and impactful change on the environmentReferences ► 1.Haskins I et al Hernia 2017 “There is no association between the type of surgical hat worn and the incidence of postoperative wound events” ► 2.Hussain S et al, Neurosurgery, Volume 82 ,Issue 4 , 1st April 2018 Pages 548-554 Mandatory change from surgical skull caps to bouffant caps among operating room personnel does not reduce surgical site infections ► 3.Markel Tet al, Journal of the American College of Surgeons, October 2017 Volume 225, Issue 4, supplement 2 “When compared to cloth skull caps disposable bouffant caps had greater permeability , greater particulate contamination and greater particulate microbial shedding .