Cleanroom.net Exclusives : Interview With ASF’s Patrick Mamoudy & Simon Marmor

Dr Patrick Mamoudy

Cleanroom.net Exclusives wishes to thank Patrick Mamoudy, head of the orthopaedic surgery department, and Simon Marmor, surgeon, groupe hospitalier Diaconesses Croix Saint Simon, Paris, France, for this interview.

Cleanroom.net : When and why was the Aseptic Surgery Forum (ASF) established ?

Patrick & Simon : Together with a number of French and foreign colleagues, we began to work on issues linked to septic surgery, mainly joint infections, nearly 25 years ago.

We were involved in the creation and activities of the TIRESIAS think-tank and then in the creation of LIEN. The social and financial impact of these issues linked to joint infections led the health authorities, with our help, to set up referral centres.

We felt the time had come to organize an international meeting of experts in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of these surgical infections :
- Health workers : surgeons, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, purchasing, logistics and works services ;
- Suppliers of fittings, equipment, drugs and medical devices, products, technologies and services.

In order to :
- Structure and improve the management of infected patients ;
- Improve professional practices in terms of hygiene ;
- Develop technologies and medical devices to limit the risks together with industry ;
- Promote and explore fundamental research on the mechanisms underpinning these as yet little known infections;
- Bring together specialists from not only the medical but also the technological areas that contribute to the daily fight against infections.

In July 2008, the first meetings to design Surgery Forum began and contacts with experts on an international level were made :
- To define the conference programme and contact speakers,
- To contact partners to build the exhibition running in parallel with the lectures.

The goal was to organize a genuine technological showcase, on a human scale, to enable attendees to continue discussions triggered by the lectures at the booths.

Cleanroom.net : What is the basic philosophy of the forum ?

Patrick & Simon : The scientific committee is firmly convinced that the prevention of surgical infections is rooted in both good practices and the technological innovation capabilities of industry and pharmaceutical companies that make drugs and medical devices. Through exchanges between professionals from all these different worlds, this meeting of prime stakeholders should boost innovation and help mobilize health workers

Cleanroom.net : Which major new innovations and trends are in this year’s forum?

Patrick & Simon : For this first edition, the Scientific Committee felt it was essential to cover all the themes that play a major role in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of surgical infections:

FRIDAY 26 MARCH 2010
- Why do infections occur ?
- Antimicrobial coatings : prospects
- Hand hygiene
- The human factor
- Design and organization of the operating theatre
- Should sterilization be carried out in-house ?
- Microbiological diagnosis : new prospects
- Prevention of surgical site infections : are current measures sufficient ?

SATURDAY 27 MARCH
- Round table : one step or two-step surgical treatment of infected THRs ?
- From skin to infection
- Infection in other special fields, analogies and differences
- Legal and economic consequences of surgical infections

The full programme is available on the site www.aseptic-surgery-forum.com. For the 2nd edition in March 2012, we have already begun to prepare the sessions, which will go deeper into the topics addressed in 2010, like :
- The design and organization of the operating theatre, with a focus on the link between infection and air in the operating theatre
- Preparation of the skin
- Antibiotic treatment and prophylactic antibiotic treatment
- Clothing and Infection transmission
- Etc.

Cleanroom.net : What themes regarding cleanrooms will we see discussed at the conference, and what are the major design considerations when constructing a clean room in a hospital setting?

Patrick & Simon : On Friday, 26 March, after lunch, Joseph Hajjar, Hygiene and Epidemiology Department, Centre Hospitalier Général, Valence, President of SFHH (Société Française d’Hygiène Hospitalière), France, will chair the session on the Design and organization of the operating theatre:

- Jérôme Bataille, DPLG Architect, AIA (Architectes Ingénieurs Associés) will share his experience in his presentation « Principles of design based on an aseptic approach to the operating theatre

- The key subject « What quality of air in the operating theatre? » will be addressed by Jean-Charles CETRE, Hospital Hygiene – Epidemiology Unit, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Lyon, France.

- Daniel QUINET, Marketing and Large Projects Director, Dagard, France, will focus his paper on « The Clean Room concept in a hospital setting». He will address issues linked to contamination, standards and principles, the choice of materials, interfaces, junctions, connections, fluid and equipment integration, in addition to maintenance and cleaning.

To illustrate its statement, Dagard is organizing a joint area in the exhibition together with experts in flooring, filtering ceilings, cleaning, disinfection, closures, etc. The aim is to provide comprehensive information on the relationship between equipment and the prevention of infections to health professionals involved in decisions to make investments .

- Laurence Marsal, in charge of the Quality, Hygiene, Risk Management Department, President of CLIN, risk manager, Groupe Hospitalier Diaconesses Croix Saint-Simon, will take stock of the « Limits of bio-cleaning ”.

To wind up this session, Luc Lhotellier, Groupe Hospitalier Diaconesses Croix Saint-Simon, will cover air contamination in the advent of surgical site infection through his paper on « Operating theatre rest time between two operations ».

Cleanroom.net : What cleanroom products and services can we expect to see at the exhibition?

Patrick & Simon : The exhibition, located right next to the conference hall, where the more informal events will take place – breaks, meals and cocktails – will enable participants to meet experts in the design, fittings, equipment, cleaning, disinfection and maintenance of operating theatres, etc.

Cleanroom.net : Does the congress feel that the global economic downturn is having an effect on investment in Aseptic Surgery technological innovations?

Patrick & Simon : The economic crisis we are experiencing does tend to be painful. Non-urgent or comfort surgery is being postponed. However, the scale and seriousness of issues linked to surgical infections are so great that they remain a priority.

The decision made by industrial partners to support Aseptic Surgery Forum is based on :
- The skills of the Scientific Committee and calibre of the speakers ;
- The target groups, which are their core concern ;
- Location within Paris;
- The human scale, which enables them to participate with smaller-sized booths, and thus at a reasonable cost;
- The possibility for health professionals to attend free of charge.

Cleanroom.net : When does registration close for the conference? And how do you register?

Patrick & Simon : Professional societies and health professional associations are regularly informed of the goals and programme of Aseptic Surgery Forum.

The financial aspect of attendance by health workers was anticipated by offering free invitations to the exhibition, conference, documents, meals and friendly, relaxed moments for members of the associations and organizations concerned.

Registration is underway, on the site and by e-mail. Registration on the spot  will be possible at the congress welcome desk on Friday, 26 March 2010 ; however, we urge you to register ahead of time in order to benefit from advantageous rates.

For The French Version Of The Interview Click Here