principles of sterile technique wxpound each
Principle #1
Scrubbed persons function within a sterile field.2
The surgical team is made up of sterile and nonsterile members. Sterile members or "scrubbed" personnel work directly in the surgical field while the nonsterile members work in the periphery of the sterile surgical field. All surgical team members wear scrub attire. In addition to scrub attire, scrubbed persons must wear a sterile surgical gown, mask, and gloves within the sterile field to establish bacterial barriers.2,4 These barriers protect the patient from the transmission of microorganisms from the surgical team.
Once the scrubbed person dons the sterile surgical gown, the gown's sterility is limited to the gown portions directly viewed by the scrubbed person. These sterile areas include the gown front, from chest to the sterile field level, and the sleeves from two inches above the elbow to the cuff.2,4 The scrubbed personnel always perform a surgical hand scrub prior to donning their sterile surgical gown and gloves.
Principle #2
Sterile drapes are used to create a sterile field.2,5
Sterile surgical drapes establish an aseptic barrier minimizing the passage of microorganisms from nonsterile to sterile areas.2 Sterile drapes should be placed on the patient, furniture, and equipment to be included in the sterile field, leaving only the incisional site exposed.5 During the draping process, only scrubbed personnel should handle sterile drapes. The drapes should be held higher than the operating room bed with the patient draped from the prepped incisional site out to the periphery.2 Once the sterile drape is positioned, it should not be moved or rearranged.5 Keep in mind that after the patient and operating room tables are draped, only the top surface of the draped area is considered sterile.1
Principle #3
All items used within a sterile field must be sterile.2,4
Under no circumstances should sterile and nonsterile items/areas be mixed since one contaminates the other.4 Sterilization
Scrubbed persons function within a sterile field.2
The surgical team is made up of sterile and nonsterile members. Sterile members or "scrubbed" personnel work directly in the surgical field while the nonsterile members work in the periphery of the sterile surgical field. All surgical team members wear scrub attire. In addition to scrub attire, scrubbed persons must wear a sterile surgical gown, mask, and gloves within the sterile field to establish bacterial barriers.2,4 These barriers protect the patient from the transmission of microorganisms from the surgical team.
Once the scrubbed person dons the sterile surgical gown, the gown's sterility is limited to the gown portions directly viewed by the scrubbed person. These sterile areas include the gown front, from chest to the sterile field level, and the sleeves from two inches above the elbow to the cuff.2,4 The scrubbed personnel always perform a surgical hand scrub prior to donning their sterile surgical gown and gloves.
Principle #2
Sterile drapes are used to create a sterile field.2,5
Sterile surgical drapes establish an aseptic barrier minimizing the passage of microorganisms from nonsterile to sterile areas.2 Sterile drapes should be placed on the patient, furniture, and equipment to be included in the sterile field, leaving only the incisional site exposed.5 During the draping process, only scrubbed personnel should handle sterile drapes. The drapes should be held higher than the operating room bed with the patient draped from the prepped incisional site out to the periphery.2 Once the sterile drape is positioned, it should not be moved or rearranged.5 Keep in mind that after the patient and operating room tables are draped, only the top surface of the draped area is considered sterile.1
Principle #3
All items used within a sterile field must be sterile.2,4
Under no circumstances should sterile and nonsterile items/areas be mixed since one contaminates the other.4 Sterilization