OBJECTIVE To establish infection control standards and management specifications for the barn integrated operating rooms in thoracic surgery, and to conduct preliminary verification, providing a scientific basis for the barn integrated operating rooms in thoracic surgery.

METHODS This study employed a literature research method, retrieving relevant information from a database system spanning from Feb. 2013 to Feb. 2023, to construct the initial draft of infection control standards and management specifications for the barn integrated operating rooms in thoracic surgery. To ensure the scientificity and practicality of the standards, the research team convened two rounds of expert meetings in Mar. 2023, inviting 13 experts to finalize the draft. Subsequently, from Apr. 2023 to Mar. 2024, a preliminary application trial was conducted at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital: 100 patients undergoing surgery in the barn integrated operating rooms were randomly selected as the study group, and 100 patients undergoing surgery in the conventional operating rooms were selected as the control group. The effect of the protocol was evaluated by comparing indicators such as postoperative thoracic hemorrhage, postoperative infection, postoperative pulmonary complications, intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative antibiotic use and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS After two rounds of expert meetings, the finalized protocol encompassed four aspects: environmental management, personnel management, material and equipment management and hygiene monitoring management, with a total of 26 specific measures proposed. After the initial application of the protocol, there were no significant differences in postoperative indicators and patient satisfaction between the two groups of patients. The air culture results of both operating rooms met the standards each month, but the average turnover time in the barn integrated operating rooms (15.76±9.18 min) was lower than that in the conventional operating rooms (29.02±10.13 min) (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION The infection control standards and management specifications established in this study are scientific, feasible and practical, providing a solid theoretical basis and practical guidance for infection control in the barn integrated operating rooms and effectively optimizing the operating room process.