Infection control is a fundamental practice in all healthcare and home settings, serving as the first line of defense against the spread of illness. The primary goal of these practices is to minimize the risk of transferring microorganisms, which can lead to serious infections. Within this framework, “clean technique” is a foundational set of actions aimed at reducing the number of germs present in a given environment. It is a common and highly effective method used globally to protect patients during routine procedures and daily care.
What It Means to Be “Clean”
Clean technique, also widely known as medical asepsis, focuses on reducing and confining microorganisms to prevent their spread from one person or surface to another. The objective is not to achieve a state entirely free of all microbes, but rather to seek a significant reduction in the microbial load to lower the risk of infection. This is achieved by interrupting the pathways that germs take to travel between the environment, equipment, and a patient.
The concept of “clean” means treating the environment and equipment as though they contain a normal level of microorganisms, and then using specific steps to manage them. A core principle involves minimizing the transfer of pathogens, ensuring that surfaces and equipment that touch the patient’s skin or non-sterile areas have a significantly reduced number of germs.
The term “clean field” refers to a prepared area, such as a disinfected tray or surface, where supplies can be placed without immediately becoming contaminated. This practice acknowledges that while the working area is not sterile, it is meticulously prepared to keep the equipment as free from germs as possible.
The Crucial Differences from Sterile Technique
Clean technique differs fundamentally from sterile technique, which is also called surgical asepsis, in both its goal and its application. Sterile technique aims for the complete elimination of all microorganisms, including spores, demanding an environment that is entirely free of contamination. This level of microbial absence is required for invasive procedures where instruments enter a sterile part of the body, such as during major surgery or the insertion of central IV lines.
The preparations for sterile technique are significantly more stringent, requiring the use of a sterile field, sterile instruments, and sterile gloves. A key rule of sterile technique is “sterile-to-sterile” contact, meaning a sterile item can only be touched by another sterile item. Conversely, clean technique relies on clean (non-sterile) gloves and a clean field, and it does not mandate these complex transfer rules.
Choosing between the two techniques depends entirely on the risk of infection and the nature of the procedure being performed. Clean technique is appropriate for procedures involving contact with intact skin or mucous membranes. Sterile technique is reserved for procedures that involve entering a normally sterile body cavity, like the bladder or a deep surgical wound, where the introduction of even a small number of microorganisms could cause a severe infection.
Practical Applications and Core Steps
Clean technique is applied to routine care activities where the risk of infection is managed by reducing germs. Common scenarios include routine dressing changes for chronic wounds, administering medications through feeding tubes, and performing certain aspects of catheter care, such as emptying a urinary drainage bag. These procedures involve surfaces that are already colonized with bacteria or are not considered sterile.
The most important step in clean technique is meticulous hand hygiene, which involves washing hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based rub immediately before and after the procedure. Hands are the primary vehicles for germ transfer, making this the most effective measure to prevent cross-contamination.
Core Steps of Clean Technique
Once hands are clean, the process involves several key steps:
- Preparing a clean working surface and gathering all necessary supplies.
- Putting on non-sterile examination gloves to provide a barrier between the caregiver’s hands and the patient’s site or equipment.
- Properly disposing of all soiled materials immediately after the procedure to contain the microorganisms.