• High relative humidity causes medical personnel to perspire.surgical team during operation: working on open wo image by alma_sacra from Fotolia.com
  
  Operating rooms are required to deploy desiccant dehumidification units in an effort to regulate relative humidity. Low humidity can cause electrostatic charges and patient hypothermia. High humidity causes increased growth of bacteria and fungus as well as uncomfortable conditions for the operating room staff. Keeping the relative humidity at 50 percent eliminates unfavorable conditions in the surgical suite.
  
  

Electrostatic Charges

• Low levels of relative humidity cause an increase in electrostatic charges. These charges are electric currents between two objects and may cause damage to electrical equipment. In the presence of oxygen gas, a spark can cause a fire or explosion. Operating rooms must be kept at a relative humidity of 50 percent to eliminate these risks.
  
  

Patient Hypothermia

• Patients are susceptible to hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature, during lengthy surgical procedures where humidity is lower than 35 percent. Relative humidity set at 50 percent reduces the chance of both hypothermia and the drying of mucous membranes.
  
  

Airborne Bacteria and Fungus

• A relative humidity of 50 percent controls the growth of airborne bacteria, thus minimizing infections in operating room procedures. In addition, the dry air from desiccant systems eliminates mold and mildew growing in air ducts and filters.
  
  

Comfort

• Heat from lights and equipment, multilayered gowning and lengthy surgical procedures cause surgeons and operating personnel to perspire. Desiccant dehumidification units that keep relative humidity at 50 percent ensure comfort and reduce the incidence of stress-induced errors.