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The "five-second" rule for dropped food: does it apply to dropped medical objects in the operating room? A randomized study of disinfection approaches for contaminated arthroplasty implants.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Warren, BG; Rosas, S; Villoch, E; Graves, AM; Barrett, A; Fils-Aime, G; Thomas, C; Seyler, T; Jiranek, W; Ryan, S; Anderson, DJ; Weber, D ...
Published in: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol
March 26, 2026

Polyethylene liners dropped onto operating room floors rapidly acquire bacterial contamination, including clinically important pathogens. In a randomized bench study, sterile chlorhexidine-alcohol and povidone-iodine immersion significantly reduced bioburden compared with ethanol or no intervention. When replacement is not feasible, chlorhexidine or iodine is preferable.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol

DOI

EISSN

1559-6834

Publication Date

March 26, 2026

Start / End Page

1 / 5

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Epidemiology
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
 

Citation

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Warren, B. G., Rosas, S., Villoch, E., Graves, A. M., Barrett, A., Fils-Aime, G., … Seidelman, J. (2026). The "five-second" rule for dropped food: does it apply to dropped medical objects in the operating room? A randomized study of disinfection approaches for contaminated arthroplasty implants. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2026.10418
Warren, Bobby Glenn, Samuel Rosas, Eduardo Villoch, Amanda M. Graves, Aaron Barrett, Guerbine Fils-Aime, Christina Thomas, et al. “The "five-second" rule for dropped food: does it apply to dropped medical objects in the operating room? A randomized study of disinfection approaches for contaminated arthroplasty implants.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, March 26, 2026, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2026.10418.
Warren BG, Rosas S, Villoch E, Graves AM, Barrett A, Fils-Aime G, Thomas C, Seyler T, Jiranek W, Ryan S, Anderson DJ, Weber D, Seidelman J. The "five-second" rule for dropped food: does it apply to dropped medical objects in the operating room? A randomized study of disinfection approaches for contaminated arthroplasty implants. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2026 Mar 26;1–5.
Journal cover image

Published In

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol

DOI

EISSN

1559-6834

Publication Date

March 26, 2026

Start / End Page

1 / 5

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Epidemiology
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences