Infection prevention measures in ORs can be at odds with sustainability
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This scoping review in the Journal of Hospital Infection addresses the question to what extent infection prevention measures are at odds with ambitions to reduce the health sector's carbon footprint. Although hospitals strive to reduce their carbon footprint, many infection prevention measures result in increased emissions. The use of new air treatment systems and disposable items generally leads to significant greenhouse gas emissions and does not necessarily reduce the incidence of SSIs. Alternative infection prevention measures with less environmental impact are available. Infection prevention measures in ORs can be at odds with sustainability. Implementation could be facilitated by embracing environmental impact as an additional dimension of quality of care, which should change current risk-based approaches for the prevention of SSIs.