Surgical smoke contains multiple infectious viruses.

A systematic review of 26 studies revealed that surgical smoke (ss) harbors various infectious viruses, including human papillomavirus (HPV), HIV, varicella zoster, hepatitis B, SARS-CoV-2, and oral poliovirus. These findings indicate a potential transmission risk to healthcare workers in operating rooms during procedures involving smoke-producing devices. The results emphasize the need for stringent protective measures, as personal protective equipment alone may not fully mitigate the risk posed by viral exposure through surgical smoke.