Week 1 Terms Flashcards
Antiseptics
Chemical agents approved for the use on skin;
Inhibits growth and reproduction of microorganisms
Asepsis
Absence of pathogenic microorganisms on an animate surface and/or body tissue;
Goal of surgical practices;
State of minimal or zero pathogens;
“Without infection”
Aseptic technique
Methods or practice in healthcare that reduce infection
Chemical barrier
Barrier formed by the action of an antiseptic;
Reduces number of microorganisms on surface, prevents recolonization for limited period
Contamination
Consequence of physical contact between sterile surface and non sterile surface in sx resulting in potential/actual transfer of microbes from one surface to another
Containment and confinement
Foundation concept of a septic technique where sterile and nonsterile surfaces are separated by physical barriers or distance
Double gloving
Wearing two pairs of gloves, one over another, to reduce risk of contamination as a result of glove failure or puncture
Gross contamination
Contamination of a large area of tissue by a highly infective source
Hand washing
Specific technique used to remove soil, debris, and dead cells from the hands;
Handwashing with an antiseptic reduces number of microorganisms
Non sterile personnel
In sx, team members who remain outside the boundary of the sterile field;
Do not come into contact with sterile equipment, sterile areas, or surgical wound;
i.e. Circulator, anesthesia care provider, and radiographic tech
Physical barrier
In sx, seperates a sterile and non sterile surface;
i.e. Sterile sx gloves, gowns, drapes
Resident flora
Normal flora;
Microorganisms normally present in specific tissues;
Necessary for regular function of tissues/structure
Scrub
Scrubbed surgical tech or nursing assistant in sx;
Surgical hand scrub performed before sx
Scrubbed personnel
Sterile personnel;
In sx, members of surgical team who work within the sterile field
Sharps
Any objects that can penetrate the skin and have the potential to cause injury and infection;
Includes needles, scalpel blades
Sterile field
An area that includes the draped pt;
All sterile tables and sterile equipment in the immediate area of the pt;
Pt is the center of the sterile field
Sterile item
Any item/medical device that has been exposed to a process that destroys all microbes
Sterility
A state in which an inanimate/animate surface harbors absolutely no viable microorganisms
Strike-through contamination
Event in which fluid from a non sterile surface penetrates the protective wrapper of a sterile item, causing it to become contaminated
Surgical conscience
In sx, the ethical motivation to practice excellent aseptic technique to protect the pt from infection
Surgical hand RUB
Systematic application of antiseptic foam/gel on hands before gowning and gloving for a sterile procedure
Surgical hand SCRUB
Specific technique for washing the hands before donning a surgical gown and gloves before sx;
Performed with timed or counted strokes using detergent-based antiseptic;
Removes dirt, oils, and transient microorganisms;
Reduces the number of resident microorganisms
Surgical wound
Superficial and deep tissue layers of a surgical incision;
Center of the surgical field
Surgical site infection (SSI)
Post operative infection of the surgical wound
