Clean Needle Technique

Question 1

Antiseptic

Answer 1

products designed to reduce the density of microbial life on living tissue, particularly on the skin of the patient or practitioner.

Question 2

aseptic techniques

Answer 2

techniques for preventing infection during invasive proceeds such as surgical operations, dressing wounds, or in some laboratory procedure. acupuncture is not an aseptic procedure because it is not performed in a in a manner that preserves the sterility of the acupuncturist’s hands or the skin of the patios. Acupuncture is a clean rather than sterile procedure. that having been said, acupuncture needles must be kept isn a sterile condition of use in CNT.

Question 3

clean field

Answer 3

the area that has been prepared to contain the equipment necessary for acupuncture in such a way as t protect the sterility of the needles. by extension, this includes not only the clean surface on which equipment will be places, but also the patient skin around prepared acu points, and anything that touchiest the skin. A clean field is not the same as a sterile field.

Question 4

clean technique

Answer 4

the use of techniques sic as antisepsis, disaffection, sterilization, hand washing and isolation of sharps, designed to reduce the risk of infection of patients, practitioners, and office personnel by reducing the number of pathogens, thereby reducing the changes for contact between the pathogens and the patients and personnel.

Question 5

contamination

Answer 5

introduction of contaminating viruses, bacteria or other organisms into or onto previously clean or sterile objects, rendering them unclean or non-sterile

Question 6

disinfectants

Answer 6

chemicals employed in disinfection. they should only be used on inanimate objects, and are not to be confused with antiseptics that are applied to the body.

Question 7

examples of disinfectants

Answer 7

hypochlorite dilutions such as bleach, and commercial chemicals such as Staphene

Question 8

disinfection

Answer 8

the use of chemicals and procedures designed to destroy or reduce the number of pathogens on inanimate objects such as equipment and clinic surfaces. It must be recognized that some bacteria, spores, and viruses may resist the often lethal effects of many chemicals

Question 9

sterilization

Answer 9

sue of procedures that destroy all the microbial life, including viruses. this is a diid, uncompromising term. there is no such thing as partial sterility. in acupuncture, sterilization is required for all instruments that pierce the skin, (needles, plum blossom needles, seven star hammers, and lancets) and insertion tubes.

Question 10

what are the basic principles of clean needle technique

Answer 10

1. always wash hands between patients, and before and after needling
2. always use sterile single use needles and other instrument that may break skin, such as seven star hammers and lancets
3. always establish a clean field before performing acupuncture
4. always immediately isolate used needles and other sharps

Question 11

what is the single most important action in preventing cross infection, other than sterile needles

Answer 11

hand washing

Question 12

what are the 2 types of infectious agents on the skin?

Answer 12

resident and transient

Question 13

transient agents

Answer 13

infectious agent picked up from one patient and possible carried to another. soap is adequate for cleansing the surface of the skin for this type of infectious agent

Question 14

resident agent

Answer 14

lodge deeper in the skin, they present additional risk for an immunocompromised patient and germicidal soap or alcohol-based hand disinfectant should be used.

Question 15

what is critical for acu needles

Answer 15

1. sterile for each insertion
2. use filiform (solid) acupuncture needles
3. disposable, single use needles must be used
4. appropriate packaging for needles to remain their sterility
5. needles must be removed from their sterile packaging in a way that avoids contamination
6. shaft must be in a sterile state prior to insertion
7. insertion and manipulation of the needle may not be done without practitioners bare hands coming into contact with shaft of the needle

Question 16

what is important about guide tubes

Answer 16

they may not be used on more than one patient, but can be used more than once on the same patient as long as it remains clean

Question 17

is cupping sterile or clean

Answer 17

they must be clean. disinfected in a bleach dilution and then cleaned with soap and water.

Question 18

when must gloves be worn?

Answer 18

when there is risk of contact with blood or other potentially infectious body fluids. it is not needed during routine acupuncture practice, but must be used when there is significant bleeding, or if you are bleeding a point on the patient with a lancet.