Week 2: Surgical Asepsis 1

Question 1

What is the difference between surgical asepsis and medical asepsis?

Answer 1

Medical: Is to prevent the spread of microorganisms (clean technique) (external)

Surgical: eliminates microorganisms completely (sterile technique) (internal)

Question 2

What are some things you should explain to the patient when doing sterile asepsis to get the patient to cooperate?

Answer 2

Avoid sudden movements
Do not touch the field
No coughing, sneezing or talking over the field
Make sure patient is comfortable

Question 3

What is principle 1?

Answer 3

Sterile objects remain sterile when touched by only sterile objects

Sterile touching clean = contaminated
Sterile maybe touching = contaminated

Question 4

What is principle 2?

Answer 4

Only sterile objects are placed on a sterile field
(sterile objects packaging must be intact)

Question 5

What is principle 3?

Answer 5

Objects are contaminated if below the waist or out of sight
(never turn your back on sterile field, if you do it is now considered contaminated)

Question 6

What is principle 4?

Answer 6

Prolonged exposure to air causes contamination
(minimal rearranging of field reduces air contamination)

Question 7

What is principle 5?

Answer 7

Capillary Contamination
(all wet objects are discarded or resterilized)

Question 8

What is principle 6?

Answer 8

Fluids flow to gravity
- Contaminated liquids can flow over sterile field areas by gravity
- Wash hands with hands above elbows
-dry hands from fingers to elbows

Question 9

What is principle 7?

Answer 9

2.5 cm edge of sterile field is contaminated

Question 10

Latex allergies?

Answer 10

Observe patients for sensitivity to latex (itching, hives, redness, runny nose, changes in Vitals)

Question 11

How do you establish a sterile field?

Answer 11

1. Gather all supplies
2. Wash hands
3. Choose flat, dry surface with lots of room
4. Open away from your body and don’t reach over the tray