LEC 1: Asepsis

Question 1

What are the patient’s risk of infection influenced by in the hospital?

Answer 1

• Number of HCPs having direct contact
• Type and number of invasive procedures
• Therapy received
• Length of stay

Question 2

What sites and causes influence HAIs?

Answer 2

• Improper sterilization of medical instruments, such as: Catheters, IV lines, and wound care
• Improper sterile tecnique
• Inadeqaute hanbd hygiene

Question 3

Asepsis

Answer 3

Absence of pathogenic disease producing microorganisms

Question 4

What are the two types of aseptic technique?

Answer 4

• Medical asepsis
• Surgical asepsis

Question 5

Medical Asepsis

Answer 5

Reduce and prevent the spread if microorganisms

• Clean technique

Question 6

When using medical asepsis, what are the procedures you need to use?

Answer 6

Use standard precautions:

• Hand hygiene
• PPE
• Cleaning equipment between patients

Question 7

Surgical Asepsis

Answer 7

Procedures to eliminate all microorganisms

• Sterile technique

Question 8

When using surgical asepsis (sterile technique), when is an object or area considered contaminated?

Answer 8

An object or area is considered contaminated when touched by any object that is not sterile

Question 9

When is surgical asepsis used?

Answer 9

• Surgery Diagnostic procedures
• Dressing changes
• Injections/ IVs Catheters

Question 10

What are the 7 procedures of surgical asepsis?

Answer 10

1. A sterile object remains only sterile when touched by another sterile object
2. Only sterile objects may be placed on a sterile field
3. A sterile object or field out of the range of vision or an object held below a person’s waist is contaminated
4. A sterile object or field becomes contaminated by prolonged exposure to air
5. When a sterile surface comes in contact with a wet contaminated surface, the sterile object or field becomes contaminated by capillary action
6. Fluid flows in the direction of gravity
7. The edges of the sterile field or container are considered to be contaminated

Question 11

When is the border of a sterile field considered contaminated ?

Answer 11

The 2.5 cm border of a sterile field is consider to not be sterile.

• Need to keep items that are sterile within the 2.5 cm border

Question 12

How do you set up a sterile field when using medical asepsis procedures?

Answer 12

• Want clean gloves and sterile instruments
• End of instruments can be outside the border
• Hands can touch the part of the instrument that is outside of the border
• Things that are touching the patient must be within the boarder and sterile
• Can use sterile instruments to get sterile equipment, such as gauze pads

Question 13

How do you set up a sterile field when using surgical asepsis procedures?

Answer 13

• Want sterile gloves and sterile instruments
• All of the instruments must be placed within the 2.5cm border
• If you have sterile hands, can only touch sterile items

Question 14

What is the Principle of Surgical Asepsis: Do not turn your back on a sterile field or leave it unattended

Answer 14

Principle 3

• A sterile object or field out of the range of vision or an object held below a person’s waist is contaminated

Question 15

What is the Principle of Surgical Asepsis: Keep instrument tips lower than the handle while working with moist gauze

Answer 15

Principle 6

• Fluid flows in the direction of gravity

Question 16

What is the Principle of Surgical Asepsis: Do not place sterile items at the edge of the sterile field

Answer 16

Principle 7

• The edges of the sterile field or container are considered to be contaminated

Question 17

What is the Principle of Surgical Asepsis: Sterile objects that touch clean objects become contaminated

Answer 17

Principle 1

• A sterile object remains sterile only when touched by another sterile object

Question 18

What is the Principle of Surgical Asepsis: Turn off fans prior to performing a sterile procedure

Answer 18

Princile 4

• A sterile object or field becomes contaminated by prolonged exposure to air

Question 19

What is the Principle of Surgical Asepsis: Do not place an item that is punctured onto a sterile are

Answer 19

Principle 2

• Only a sterile object may be placed on a sterile field

Question 20

What is the Principle of Surgical Asepsis: Ensure sterile filed remains dry

Answer 20

Principle 5

• When a sterile surface comes in contact with a wet contaminated surface, the sterile object or filed becomes contaminated by capillary action