The Operating Theatre is a collection of rooms and suites that are used interactively before, during and after a surgical procedure wherein each room has a specific purpose.
Areas within the Operating Theatre
Divided into three:
Unrestricted Area: Transition zone, permission of street clothes, such as, the changing rooms.
Semi-Restricted Area: Traffic limited to properly attired and authorized personnel. E.g. access corridors to the operating room, peripheral support areas.
Restricted Area: Masks are required, sterile packs are opened i.e. sterile procedures are done here. E.g. Scrub-up room, prep room, anaesthetist room, operating room e.t.c.
Zones within the Operating Theatre
Clean or Transition zone: Includes the reception, induction, PACU or recovery room. Masks may not be worn.
Sterile zone: Restricted area where sterile procedures are carried out e.g. the operating room
Dirty zone or peripheral protective zone: changing rooms, offices, classrooms
Utility or Disposal zone: Dirty materials are disposed off here. E.g. the dirty corridor