Sterile technique involves precise practices to prevent infection and maintain safety. It uses meticulous procedures to exclude microorganisms from specific areas. These techniques are fundamental where even a single microbe could lead to adverse outcomes. Applying sterile technique consistently protects individuals from infectious agents.
Defining Sterile Technique
Sterile technique is a methodical approach to prevent contamination from microorganisms, creating and maintaining a “sterile field.” The term “sterile” means completely free from all living microorganisms. This contrasts with merely reducing microbial numbers; sterile technique aims for their complete elimination. This approach is important in medical settings, ensuring the safety of instruments and medications that enter the body.
Fundamental Principles
Maintaining a sterile field relies on adherence to core rules. All items used within a sterile field must be sterile, and their packaging should be checked for damage, moisture, or tears before use. Once established, a sterile field is considered contaminated if touched by any non-sterile object or person. Healthcare personnel ensure sterility by performing surgical hand scrubs before donning sterile gowns and gloves.
Movement around the sterile field is carefully managed; sterile personnel should face the sterile field and avoid turning their backs to it. All sterile equipment and gloved hands must remain above waist level and within the designated sterile area to prevent contamination. Any sterile item or surface falling below waist level is considered non-sterile. Additionally, a safe margin, typically a one-inch border around the edge of a sterile drape, is considered non-sterile.
Fluids flow in the direction of gravity, so instruments like forceps should be kept with tips down to prevent fluid from traveling up and contaminating the sterile field. When pouring sterile solutions, the container should be held six inches away from the field, and splashing should be avoided as it can lead to contamination through wicking. If the integrity of any sterile item or field is compromised, such as through a puncture, moisture, or tear, it must be considered contaminated and replaced immediately. Consistent monitoring of the sterile field by all team members is necessary to identify and correct any breaches in sterility.
Common Applications
Sterile technique is used in various settings where the risk of infection is high due to invasive procedures. It is commonly employed during surgical procedures in operating rooms to prevent surgical site infections. The use of sterile technique extends to the insertion of invasive devices, such as urinary catheters, central venous lines, and peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs). In these instances, maintaining sterility helps prevent bloodstream or urinary tract infections.
Complex wound care, particularly for deep wounds or those healing by primary intention, also requires sterile technique to protect exposed tissues from microbial invasion. The preparation of sterile solutions and medications, especially those administered intravenously, requires aseptic practices to ensure the product remains free from contamination. This includes careful hand hygiene, cleaning vial stoppers, and preventing needle contamination during drawing up medications. These applications highlight the technique’s role in safeguarding patients during procedures that bypass the body’s natural defenses.
Sterile Versus Clean
The distinction between sterile technique and clean technique lies in their respective goals for microbial control. Clean technique, also known as medical asepsis, focuses on reducing the number of microorganisms and preventing their spread. It aims to minimize the presence of germs rather than eliminate them entirely. Examples of clean technique include routine handwashing, general surface cleaning, and administering oral medications.
In contrast, sterile technique, often referred to as surgical asepsis, aims to eliminate all microorganisms from a specific area. While both techniques are important for preventing infection, sterile technique involves more rigorous measures, such as sterilization and the use of sterile instruments and equipment. Healthcare professionals select between clean and sterile techniques based on the risk of infection associated with a procedure or environment. Procedures that involve entering normally sterile body cavities or breaking the skin barrier require sterile technique due to the higher risk of infection.