Surgical Asepsis and the Principles of Sterile Technique

Question 1

refers to the absence of infectious material or infection.

Answer 1

Asepsis

Question 2

is the absence of all microorganisms within any type of invasive procedure.

Answer 2

Surgical asepsis

Question 3

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.

Answer 3

Sterile technique

Question 4

are commonly used interchangeably, but they mean different things

Answer 4

surgical asepsis and sterile technique

Question 5

Sterile technique is most commonly practiced in operating rooms, labour and delivery rooms, and special procedures or diagnostic areas.

Answer 5

Sterile technique

Question 6

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)

Answer 6

Sterile technique

Question 7

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

Answer 7

sterile technique

Question 8

Sterile technique is essential to help prevent what?

Answer 8

surgical site infections (SSI)

Question 9

an “infection that occurs after surgery in the area of surgery”

Answer 9

surgical site infections (SSI)

Question 10

are the most important reasons for using sterile technique during invasive procedures and surgeries

Answer 10

Preventing and reducing SSI

Question 11

elimination of all microorganisms from an inanimate object.

Answer 11

Sterilization

Question 12

elimination of all pathogenic microorganisms from an inanimate object.

Answer 12

Disinfection

Question 13

absence of pathogenic microorganisms on a living object

Answer 13

Asepsis

Question 14

Endogenous bacteria which are the most common contaminants.

Answer 14

Staphylococcus spp
Streptococcus spp

Question 15

5 sterile technique

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

is defined as a process that removes or destroys all microorganisms.

Answer 16

Sterilisation

Question 17

requires specific steam chamber temperatures and appropriate exposure times

Answer 17

Steam sterilisation

Question 18

defined as the process of removing as many microorganisms as possible from the hands and forearms by mechanical washing and chemical antisepsis.

Answer 18

Scrubbing hands

Question 19

time for standardized surgical scrub or rub of the hands and forearms using an approved antimicrobial solution from a hands-free dispenser

Answer 19

3-5 minute

Question 20

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.

Answer 20

open method

Question 21

the hands are kept inside the cuff at all times during the gowning and gloving procedure.

Answer 21

closed method

Question 22

is the safest and therefore most commonly used in human medicine

Answer 22

plunge/assisted method

Question 23

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.

Answer 23

Double gloving