For a laboratory study performed in a self-controlled fashion, the goal of investigation was to determine if “surgical smoke” produced by electrocautery on pig spinal tissues contained live microorganisms. Surgical smoke evacuation in the operating room law experienced an increase in the United States in 2020. Spine surgeons and operating room workers were often exposed to surgical smoke. It contained various hazardous and carcinogenic chemicals. Despite substantial research into the smoke’s chemical toxicity, little was known about its biohazard threshold. On a clean bench, electrocautery was used to “operate on” 20 segments of pig spinal tissues. The produced smoke was captured with a swab placed above the surgical site and within the smoke throughout each operation to obtain bacteria cultures. Two other swabs were used as controls: a tissue swab (swabbing porcine tissue) and a blank swab (swabbing an empty sterile bowl). The outcomes of the 3 groups’ cultures were compared. Another experiment was carried out to investigate if wearing a mask could lessen the swab’s “infection rate.” Despite the fact that all blank swabs were negative, 95% (19/20) of the smoke swabs were positive, revealing a total of 9 bacteria species. Serratia liquefaciens, Lactococcus garvieae, and Hafnia alvei were the most common bacteria found in the smoke swabs. 84% (16/19) of the positive smoke swabs had one or more bacteria species that matched the cultures of their matching tissue swabs. The “infection rate” of the swab was lowered by using a surgical or N95 mask. “Surgical smoke” created by electrocauterization of pig spinal tissues included live germs. Following that, more research into actual spine surgery is required.
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