ArticlePloS one2014
The role of packaging size on contamination rates during simulated presentation to a sterile field.
Article in PloS one, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Climate-Conscious Glaucoma Care: Strategies to Minimize the Environmental Impact in the Operating Room and in the Clinic.Journal of ophthalmology · 2025Review
- Evaluating Aseptic Presentation of Different Medical Device Packaging Configurations.Biomedical instrumentation & technology · 2023Article
- Research on the Factors Damaging Hydrogen Peroxide Low-Temperature Plasma Sterile Packaging Bags and the Control of Link Quality.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2022Article
- Reducing levels of medical device contamination through package redesign and opening technique.PloS one · 2018Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the impact of package size on the contact between medical devices and non-sterile surfaces (i.e. the hands of the practitioner and the outside of the package) during aseptic presentation to a simulated sterile field. Rationale for this objective stems from the decades-long problem of hospital-acquired infections. This work approaches the problem from a unique perspective, namely packaging size.
designRandomized complete block design with subsampling.
settingResearch study conducted at professional conferences for surgical technologists and nursing professionals.
participantsNinety-seven healthcare providers, primarily surgical technologists and nurses.
methodsParticipants were gloved and asked to present the contents of six pouches of three different sizes to a simulated sterile field. The exterior of pouches and gloves of participants were coated with a simulated contaminant prior to each opening trial. After presentation to the simulated sterile field, the presence of the contaminant on package contents was recorded as indicative of contact with non-sterile surfaces and analyzed in a binary fashion using a generalized linear mixed model.
resultsRecruited subjects were 26-64 years of age (81 females, 16 males), with 2.5-44 years of professional experience. Results indicated a significant main effect of pouch size on contact rate of package contents (P = 0.0108), whereby larger pouches induced greater rates of contact than smaller pouches (estimates±SEM: 14.7±2.9% vs. 6.0±1.7%, respectively). DISCUSSION AND
conclusionThis study utilized novel methodologies which simulate contamination in aseptic presentation. Results of this work indicate that increased contamination rates are associated with larger pouches when compared to smaller pouches. The results add to a growing body of research which investigate packaging's role in serving as a pathway for product contamination during aseptic presentation. Future work should investigate other packaging design factors (e.g. material, rigidity, and closure systems) and their role in contamination.
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