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CENTER VALLEY, Pa., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympus announced today its support of The Joint Commission's recommended safety actions for managing the hazards of exposure to surgical smoke for healthcare staff in operating rooms. The primary recommendation is for healthcare organizations to protect their staff by implementing "standard procedures for the removal of surgical smoke and plume." The safety actions also note, importantly, that exposure to surgical smoke presents a low risk to patients.
Surgical smoke can be hazardous to the health of people working within the surgical suite. Made up of gases and vapors, it is the byproduct of tissue treated with electrical surgical devices, and it contains bioaerosols, viruses and chemicals, some of which are known carcinogens. The hazards include acute exposure to aerosolized viruses that can lead to infection and long-term, chronic exposure that can lead to debilitating illnesses.