One of the largest complications of modern medical therapy is healthcare associated infections (HAIs). In 2011, the Center for Disease Control reported that the total number of HAIs in acute hospitals was at least 721,800 with 157,500 alone relating to Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) from inpatient surgery [CDC ref]. It is widely believed that the majority of SSIs are caused by air-borne transmission of bacteria that enter the open wound during surgical procedures.

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Drug-resistant bacteria are also a growing problem, as the pharmaceutical-based methods to treat these infections are becoming less and less effective. The inability to fight these pathogens with traditional methods is leading to more devastating results. It is therefore imperative that all possible measures are taken to prevent the infectious agents from infiltrating the surgical site.  While many steps have been taken to ensure a clean, sterile environment during procedures – such as instrument sterilization, gowning procedures, and chemical disinfection – no method has proven successful at preventing airborne bacteria from directly contacting the site.