WEEK 9: Principles of surgical asepsis and sterile field

Question 1

What is the purpose of sterile technique?

Answer 1

To maintain an area free from pathogenic microorganisms and minimize patient exposure to infection causing agents

Question 2

What does sterile technique include?

Answer 2

1) PPE (mask, eyewear, gown, cap)
2) Performing surgical hand scrub (hand hygiene)
3) Applying sterile gown and gloves

Question 3

Discuss settings where surgical aseptic techniques are necessary

Answer 3

Used at bedside for procedures that require intentional puncture of skin, insertion of devices into a sterile part of the body and when skin integrity is compromised

Question 4

identify the principles of surgical asepsis  KNOW THIS

Answer 4

• All items must be sterile
• Sterile barrier had been permeated by punctures, tears, or moisture = CONTAMINATED
• Once sterile package is opened, a 2.5cm(1inch) border around the edges is considered unsterile
• Tables draped as part of sterile field are considered sterile only at the table level
• If you question the sterility = UNSTERILE
• Sterile contacting sterile = STERILE but sterile contacting unsterile = UNSTERILE. Movement around and in the sterile field must not compromise or contaminate the field
• A sterile object out of range in vision or object below patient’s waist = CONTAMINATED
• The longer a sterile field is open the more contaminated it gets by air so work ASAP

Question 5

DONNING and DOFFING order

Answer 5

Donning:

1) Cap
2) Mask
3) Eyewear
4) Sterile gown (if needed)
5) Gloves (sterile or not)

Doffing:

1) Gloves
2) Gown
3) eyewear
4) Mask

Question 6

How do we perform sterile gloving skill?

Answer 6

1) Verify is patient or hcp has latex allergy
2) Select the proper glove size
3) Select the type of glove (latex or non latex)
4) Perform glove