Lise-Lott Larsson

I am a PhD student at CLINTEC, Karolinska Institutet. The research project evaluates real-time measurements of airborne bioparticles in operating rooms and investigates whether factors related to healthcare staff, such as clothing systems and physical activity, affect the levels of bioparticles.

I use the Bio Aerosol Monitoring System, BAMS, which measures both the total number of airborne particles and fluorescent bioparticles, FBP. Particles containing biological components such as nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide-hydrogen (NADH) or riboflavin fluoresce when illuminated with a laser beam at a specific wavelength. The total number of particles and FBP in sizes ≤ 0.5 µm – 25 µm are simultaneously measured by BAMS and saved in 5-second intervals.

BAMS is part of a system called Z-nav, where variables are recorded for each orthopedic operation in the department; such as type of surgery, number of staff in the room and time for antibiotic prophylaxis. This system is linked to automatic registration of door openings during ongoing surgeries.

The level of FBP is displayed in real time on a monitor in the operating room, and alerts are shown if the FBP level becomes too high.

I have a background in perioperative nursing. My areas of interest are joint replacement surgery, hygiene and infection prevention.