Introduction: Between 1% and 5% of joint prostheses will become infected. The main bacteria involved in prosthetic infections are coagulase negative staphylococci, principally Staphylococcus epidermidis.

The introduction of the laminar flow theatre was responsible for a decrease in wound infection four and a half fold. Further research has found that total body exhaust suits were also responsible for a reduction in infection rate.

These exhaust suits include a toga hood, also supplied sterile and attached to the gown. There is no information from the manufacturers regarding microbial penetration of these hoods. Therefore we have performed an experiment to examine the potential for microbial penetration of these toga hoods, both when wet and dry.

Methods: Confluent lawns of Staphylococcus Epidermidis NCTC 11047 (Fig. 2) were created on two isosensitest agar plates by flood seeding the organism onto the plates, followed by incubation overnight at 37°C.

Both wet and dry toga circles were applied to the previously prepared lawns of Staphylococcus epidermidis NCTC 11047, with the internal surface in contact with the lawn. Swabbings were taken from the external surface of both wet and dry toga circles at regular intervals. The timing of the swabbings were: 1 min, 5 mins, 20 mins, and 60 mins. The swabs were then used to inoculate blood agar plates, which were incubated overnight at 37°C, after which they were examined for growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Discussion: The results are conclusive: there is bacterial transmission from one side of the toga hood to the other. Therefore it is possible to transmit bacteria from the surgeon’s face across the toga material and into the operative field.