Surgical Asepsis and the Principles of Sterile Technique Flashcards
refers to the absence of infectious material or infection.
Asepsis
is the absence of all microorganisms within any type of invasive procedure.
Surgical asepsis
Sterile technique is a set of specific practices and procedures performed to make equipment and areas free from all microorganisms and to maintain that sterility.
Sterile technique
are commonly used interchangeably, but they mean different things
surgical asepsis and sterile technique
Sterile technique is most commonly practiced in operating rooms, labour and delivery rooms, and special procedures or diagnostic areas.
Sterile technique
used when performing a sterile procedure at the bedside, such as inserting devices into sterile areas of the body or cavities (e.g., insertion of chest tube, central venous line, or indwelling urinary catheter)
Sterile technique
is always used when the integrity of the skin is accessed, impaired, or broken (e.g., burns or surgical incisions)
may include the use of sterile equipment, sterile gowns, and gloves
sterile technique
Sterile technique is essential to help prevent what?
surgical site infections (SSI)
an “infection that occurs after surgery in the area of surgery”
surgical site infections (SSI)
are the most important reasons for using sterile technique during invasive procedures and surgeries
Preventing and reducing SSI
elimination of all microorganisms from an inanimate object.
Sterilization
elimination of all pathogenic microorganisms from an inanimate object.
Disinfection
absence of pathogenic microorganisms on a living object
Asepsis
Endogenous bacteria which are the most common contaminants.
Staphylococcus spp
Streptococcus spp
5 sterile technique
1) sterilization
2) setting up and opening the sterile field
3) scrubbing and drying hands
4) gowning and gloving
5) prepping and draping the animal.
is defined as a process that removes or destroys all microorganisms.
Sterilisation
requires specific steam chamber temperatures and appropriate exposure times
Steam sterilisation
defined as the process of removing as many microorganisms as possible from the hands and forearms by mechanical washing and chemical antisepsis.
Scrubbing hands
time for standardized surgical scrub or rub of the hands and forearms using an approved antimicrobial solution from a hands-free dispenser
3-5 minute
is used primarily for minor procedures, and it is commonly performed during a surgical procedure when the sterile person discovers a hole in the glove. In this case the perforated glove is pulled off by the nonsterile assistant followed by putting on a new glove using the open method.
open method
the hands are kept inside the cuff at all times during the gowning and gloving procedure.
closed method
is the safest and therefore most commonly used in human medicine
plunge/assisted method
is becoming increasingly popular. Many surgeons wear two gloves for draping the surgical site, then discard the outer pair of gloves after draping and don new outer gloves before beginning the procedure. This way, a small hole in the outer glove cannot penetrate through the inner glove; however, tactile sensation is somewhat diminished.
Double gloving
