Aseptic Technique and Antibiotics Flashcards
What is the difference between an antiseptic and a disinfectant?
Antiseptic kills or inhibits microorganisms and is for use on the body whereas a disinfectant removes/kills microorganisms from inanimate objects.
How does sterilisation differ to disinfection?
Sterilisation refers to the removal of spores.
What are the factors involved in surgical wound INFECTION?
Bacteria
Local Wound environment
Local and systemic defence
Surgical factors affect all of the above and patient factors affect the last 2.
When are host defences to bacteria at there lowest?
Within the first 3 hours of wounding.
What wound factors affect the liklihood of developing an infection?
Dead space and seroma
Foreign Material
Blood clots
Devitalised tissue
What patient factors can affect infection?
Age/Nutritional status
Certain disease conditions
Therapy
What are the catagories of wound? Which ones of these would require prophylactic antibiotic usage?
Clean (none)
Clean-contaminated (prophylactic)
Contaminated (prophylactic)
Dirty (therapeutic)
Why is prophylactic antibiotic treatment only beneficial in the first 3 hours after wound exposure/inocculation?
The outcome of the battle between invader and host is decided within 2-3 hours. This is known as the ‘decisive period’. Note that antibiotics also need to be given BEFORE surgery so that the MIC can be reached and maintained at the point of contamination.
What are the things that need to be prepared in an operations environment?
Surgeon
Surgical instruments
Patient
Operating theatre
How does the surgeon prepare for surgery?
Non-sterile barriers
Skin preparation
Sterile barriers
What surgical hand preparations are available?
Chlorhexidine
Povidone-iodine
Alcohol
Sterilium
Make sure to look up methods of sterilisation when revising
n/a
How is the patient aseptically prepared?
Clip area Scrub area Move to theatre Repeat preparation Wipe with alcohol Apply final preparation
What should be covered when draping and in what manner should drapes be applied?
Cover the whole patient, surgical table and instrument trolley. Drape from closest to surgeon to further away whilst maintaining a sterile area.
What is the surgical field?
The incision site, sterile drapes on the patient, the instrument trolley and surgical team (front of body between neck and waist including the arms and hands)
