Management of Sewer Flies (and Other Creepy Crawlies) in the OR

Session Description: Insects in the sterile core and operating room are not simply a nuisance, they can be catastrophically disruptive to operations and the bottom line. Per event-related sterility guidelines, exposure to vermin (including bugs) calls package sterility into question and may require reprocessing. However, sewer flies and other insects are not necessarily constrained to one area or one package in the sterile core. The reach of the infestation may be widespread particularly among flying insects. Infection Preventionists must have the knowledge and tools to address this type of high impact event. The purpose of this session is to educate and equip Infection Preventionists at all levels of experience to critically evaluate an infestation and take evidence-based, appropriate actions to mitigate the risk to patients. This session will cover the microbiology and science behind the contamination risk of insects likely to infiltrate sterile areas, the implications of infestation in these areas (e.g., time, money, uncertainty), scenarios of infestation and/or case studies of historical events, steps for timely and effective mitigation, and insight into critical conversations with hospital leadership. The session will include didactic communication of facts and historical cases, followed by facilitated group discussion, and a period for questions and answers.