Aseptic Technique Flashcards
What is asepsis?
Absence of pathogenic microbes in living tissue
What is aseptic technique
techniques that prevent pathogenic microbes from entering living tissue
How long can It take for infections associated with implants to appear? What would you need to do?
1 year! Take out the plate/implant
Surgical Infection
Infection occurring up to 30 days
after surgery, 1 year if implant
Sterilization
Process of destroying all microorganisms on inanimate objects
What are the 3 T’s of wound infection?
Time, Trauma, Trash
What is the difference between disinfectants and antiseptics?
Disinfections destroy pathogenic microbes on inanimate objects, antiseptics do the same on living tissue
What determines risk of infection?
of pathogens in wound
Duration of operation (1 hr = infection rate doubles)
Foreign material in wound
Type of procedure
What are the 4 classifications of operative wounds? What are the associated infection rates?
Clean - 2.5-6%
Clean-Contaminated - 2.5-9.5%
Contaminated - 5.5-28%
Dirty (Infected) - 18-25%
What is a ‘clean’ operative wound?
Nontraumatic, elective procedure
No acute inflammation
No break in aseptic technique
No entry into GI, urogenital, or resp. tracts
What is a ‘clean-contaminated’ operative wound?
Entry into GI, urogenital, or resp. tracts
No significant contamination
Minor break in aseptic technique
What is a ‘contaminated’ operative wound?
Fresh traumatic wounds (<4 hr old)
Spillage from GI or urogenital tracts
Major break in aseptic technique
What is a ‘dirty’ wound?
Traumatic wound >4 hr old or with devitalized tissue or foreign bodies
Perforated viscus
Acute bacterial inflammation or pus
“Clean” tissues transected to access an abscess
What host factors can contribute to infection risk after surgery?
Prior irradiation of sx site
Age (>8 yrs)
Distant site of active infection
Abnormal BCS
What factors prior to sx can contribute to infection risk after sx?
Clipping of surgical sites pre-induction
Inadequate skin prep
Anesthesia time >60mins
Admin of propofol
What factors after to sx can contribute to infection risk after sx?
Intraoperative contamination of >10^5 organism / gram of tissue
Sx time > 90 minutes
Excessive electrocautery
Foreign material/debris
Braided / multifilament material
What are the food/water guidelines for pets prior to sx?
Remove food 12hrs pre-sx. Prevents vomiting/aspiration pneumonia
Young animals remove food no sooner than 4hrs
Water is ok
How do you prep a patient for surgery (in broad terms)
Walk the patient (don’t need an OR poop!)
ID patient and correct surgical site
Clip hair after anesthesia induction
Why wouldn’t you clip a patient’s hair before anesthetic induction?
3x greater incidence of infection
How long after surgery does AB administration no longer decrease infection risk?
4 hours
