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

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.