Surgical Asepsis and Infection Prevention Flashcards
Definition of asepsis
Refers to absence of pathogenic organism (bacteria, fungi, virus, cysts, protozoa)
Definition of surgical asepsis
Aseptic technique which exclude all pathogenic micro-organism that can cause infection
What is the the purpose/goal of asepsis procedure
It is to optimise primary wound healing, prevent surgical infection and minimise the length of recovery from surgery
Where are the sterile fields?
Site of incision that has been prepared for the use of sterile supplies, furniture covered with sterile drapes and personnel attired in sterile garb
Why the need for asepsis?
To prevent contamination of surgical wound and to create and maintain a sterile field that is isolated from surrounding unsterile area.
Reason for aseptic practices/ technique?
The prevention of microbial contamination of living tissue and sterile material by removal, exclusion or destruction of micro organism
What is surgical conscience?
It is an inner commitment to adhere strictly to aseptic practice, report any break in aspetic practice, and correct any violation - whether or not anyone else is present or observes the violation
When to practice surgical aspesis?
Used in procedure when entry is made into a normally sterile body part
What are the 4 sources of contamination?
- Preoperative patient prepration
- Principle of surgical asepsis
- Preparation of healthcare professional personnel
- Surgical environment traffic
Where are the colonising flora usually found?
It is mostly found in body region rich in sebaceous gland: scalp, forehead, axillae, and front of the chest
estminated 4k to 10k contaminated particles are shed
Skin preparation (preoperative patient preparation)
- prep bathing using antimicrobial soap for patient
- General: iodine with or without alcohol
- Contraindication for alcohol solution such as facial area, ear, nose, and open wound
- Skin prep with dual agent solution (iodine with another antiseptic solution such as chlorhexidine gluconate)
How to do surgical skin preparation?
- Hair removal
- Antimicrobial prep agent
- Direction of clean to dirty
- Heaviest bioburden cleansed last
Types of antiseptic solution
- Cetrimide 1%
- Povidone iodine 1-10%
- chlorhexidine 0.5% with 70%
- Chlorhexidine 1:2000
- Methylated spirit
Principles of surgical aspesis
In preparation of invasive procedure
in preparation of sterile team
creation and maintenance of sterile field
disinfection and sterilization
AORN recommended practice #1
All items used in the sterie procedure must be sterile
AORN recommended practice #2
Items or areas doubtful of sterility are considered unsterile.
AORN recommended practice #3
Items introduced into the sterile field should be opened, dispensed and transferred by method that maintain and integrity
AORN recommended practice #4
Gowns are considered sterile from front chest to level of sterile field and above elbow to the cuff of the sleeves
AORN recommended practice #5
Tables are only sterile at table level
AORN recommended practice #6
Edges and sides are considered unsterile
AORN recommended practice #7
Sterile person only touch sterile item/area
Unsterile person only touch unsterile item/area
AORN recommended practice #8
Edge of wrapper that enclose sterile content are considered unsterile
AORN recommended practice #9
Sterile drapes are used to establish a sterile field
AORN recommended practice #10
Sterile field is prepared as close as possible to the time of use, constantly maintained and monitored.
AORN recommended practice #11
Unsterile person avoid reaching over sterile field
Sterile person avoid leaning over an unsterile area
AORN recommended practice #12
Sterile person keep well within the sterile area
Unsterile person avoid sterile area
What is the proper surgical attire?
2 piece pantsuit, disposable cap, footwear
What is the purpose of hand scrubbing?
Remove dirt, skin oil and transient microoganism from nails, hands and forearms. * Use prescribed amount of time or number of stroke and friction for effective cleansing
What is the purpose of gowning?
To prevent microorganism on the clothings from being transferred to the patient’s surgical wound. A wrap-around gown may be used for better coverage of the back but the back of the gown is neve considered steriel
What is the purpose of gloving?
Provide a bacterial barrier between the patient and health care worker. Decrease the risk of exogenous organism which result in surgical wound infection
Surgical environment and traffic
Inanimate and animate object, traffic pattern, air current and movement, number of personnel, housekeeping practice, clean and soiled activities
