Surgical Asepsis Flashcards
What is the average percentage of small animals that get SSI?
5%
What makes something an infection?
Invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues
How many days is an infection considered a SSI?
30 day s
How many days post surgery is an infection considered a SSI if there was a surgical implant placed?
1 year
What are three groups of sterilization?
Chemical + Radiation + Heat
What type of object is the only one that can be sterile?
Inanimate
What do disinfectants do?
Destroy PATHOGENIC microbes on inanimate objects
Where are antiseptics used?
Living tissue
What is decontamination?
Cleaning and disinfecting/sterilizing process to make contaminated surface safe to handle
What are aseptic techniques applied to?
Whole hospital
What are aseptic techniques designed to do?
Protect patient + hospital personnel
What are the characteristics of aseptic techniques?
Reduces number of pathgens
Decreases risk of infection
What is another name for aseptic technique?
Clean technique
What are the characteristics of sterile technique?
Work in a sterile field
Where are surgical tables considered sterile?
At table height (top of table and slightly above it)
Where are gowns considered sterile?
Mid-chest to waist + fingertips to two inches above elbow
What characteristic (just one mentioned) should the drapes covering the surgery table have?
Moisture proof
What are the two major categories of microorganisms?
Exogenous + Endogenous
Where do endogenous microogranisms come from?
Endogenous Sources
What is the “reasonable” goal of sterility?
Impossible to remove ALL living organisms therefore just trying to reach a level that is minimally-detrimenal.
What are the two most basic steps in instrument cleaning? What does each step do?
Hand cleaning = Large debris
Ultrasonic cleaning = Finer debris
What are the two types of sterile wraps?
Woven and unwoven
What is important to remember about packaging material?
It is meant for a specific type of sterile technique. If the wrong one is used you could increase the risk of SSI’s.
What is the structure of cloth wraps?
140 thread count muslin cloth
What must you do with cloth wraps?
Double wrap because it is more porous
What are non-woven clothes made from?
Polyester fibers
Better protection
Do you need to do double wraps with non-woven cloth?
it is still advised
What does ideal wrapping allow for?
Steam + Gas penetration during sterilization process
Impermeable to microbes
Why is strike-through bad with surgical packs?
Can pull bacteria into surgical pack even though it was never opened
What are the three major determinants of an infection?
Type of pathogen
Local wound environment
Host defense
What is the goal of aseptic surgery?
Reduce level of wound contamination to one that the patients body can control
At what point will an infection develop?
> 10^6 bacteria per gram of tissue
What happens w/ infection rate and a highly virulent bacteria?
Need less per gram of tissue to cause a problem
What are the factors that could lead to SSI?
Duration of Surgery Type of surgical procedure Host defense Source of bacteria Virulence
How much does the infection rate go up per hour of surgery?
It doubles
What is the time frame for a fresh traumatic wound?
What is the time frame for a traumatic wound?
> 4 hours
