Surgical Asepsis - Infection Control

Question 1

Surgical asepsis, or ___ ___, requires precautions different from those of medical asepsis.

(Astle & Duggleby, 2024, p. 709)

Answer 1

sterile technique

(Astle & Duggleby, 2024, p. 709)

Question 2

Surgical asepsis includes procedures used to eliminate all microorganisms, including ___, from an object or area.

(Astle & Duggleby, 2024, p. 709)

Answer 2

spores

(Astle & Duggleby, 2024, p. 709)

Question 3

In surgical asepsis, an area or object is considered contaminated if touched by any object that is not ___.

When nurses are working with a ___ field or with ___ equipment, they must understand that the slightest break in technique results in contamination.

(Astle & Duggleby, 2024, p. 709)

Answer 3

sterile

sterile x 2

(Astle & Duggleby, 2024, p. 709)

Question 4

Surgical asepsis should be used in the following situations:

• During procedures that require the intentional ___ of the patient’s skin (e.g., the insertion of intravenous catheters or administration of injections)
• When the skin’s ___ is broken as a result of trauma, surgical incision, or burns
• During procedures that involve the insertion of catheters or surgical instruments into sterile ___ ___

(Astle & Duggleby, 2024, p. 709)

Answer 4

perforation

integrity

body cavities

(Astle & Duggleby, 2024, p. 709)

Question 5

Although surgical asepsis is commonly practised in the operating room, labour and delivery area, and major diagnostic areas, nurses may also use surgical aseptic techniques at the patient’s bedside—for example, when inserting ___ or ___ ___, suctioning the ___ airway, or reapplying sterile dressings.

(Astle & Duggleby, 2024, p. 709)

Answer 5

intravenous

urinary catheters

tracheobronchial

(Astle & Duggleby, 2024, p. 709)

Question 6

In an operating room, nurses must follow a series of steps to maintain sterile technique, including applying a mask, protective eyewear, and a cap; performing a surgical hand scrub; and applying a sterile gown and gloves.

In contrast, when performing a dressing change at a patient’s bedside, nurses may only perform ___ ___ and apply sterile ___.

(Astle & Duggleby, 2024, p. 709)

Answer 6

hand hygiene

gloves

(Astle & Duggleby, 2024, p. 709)

Question 7

When using the principles of surgical asepsis, nurses need to remember that they are trying to prevent ___.

(Astle & Duggleby, 2024, p. 709)

Answer 7

infections

(Astle & Duggleby, 2024, p. 709)

Question 8

Surgical Asepsis: Infection Control

Objective

The goal of surgical asepsis or aseptic technique is to prevent microorganisms from becoming introduced to a ___ site.

It should also prevent ___ of microorganisms to other patients or to staff.

Principles

• Ensure that all required supplies are gathered and that there is a clear and dry ___ to carry out the procedure
• Movement within or around a sterile ___ should be done in a manner that does not contaminate the sterile ___
• Sterile ___ should be prepared as close to the time of use as possible; the potential for environmental contamination from dust and particles in the ambient environment that settle on surfaces increases over time
• Conversation in a sterile ___ should be kept to a minimum, to reduce contamination by means of respiratory droplets
• Perform hand hygiene prior to setting up a sterile ___
• Ensure that the sterile ___ covering the supplies is intact, with no punctures or evidence of moisture damage
• If there is any question of the item’s sterility, the item must be considered ___
• Open sterile packs carefully to prevent contamination of the contents of the pack
• All items in a sterile ___ must be sterile
• Once a sterile package is opened, a ___-cm border around the edges is considered unsterile
• Pour solutions into receptacles on the sterile ___ slowly to avoid splashing.

Splashing can cause strike-through or splash-back from nonsterile surfaces to the sterile ___.

• An object is considered no longer sterile if it is below a person’s ___ or if it is out of the range of ___
• Wear sterile gloves for the procedure to prevent the introduction of microorganisms to the site and to protect the wearer from coming into contact with body fluids

(Astle & Duggleby, 2024, p. 710)

Answer 8

susceptible

transmission

field

field x 2

fields

field

field

barrier

unsterile

field

2.5

field

field

waist

vision

(Astle & Duggleby, 2024, p. 710)