Principles of Aseptic Technique in an Operating Room

By Melody Fuller, eHow Contributor

I want to do this!

Surgical asepsis, or aseptic technique, is designed to get rid of pathogenic microorganisms from areas or objects. t is also used to !eep areas and objects free of microorganisms. Surgical asepsis demands more precautions than medical asepsis. "septic technique is commonly used in surgery, labor and deli#ery, in procedures that in#ol#e puncturing the s!in, when the s!in$s layers are penetrated by surgical incisions or burns, and during procedures that in#ol#e putting objects into normally sterile body ca#ities. %here are nine principles that must be followed to pre#ent microorganisms from infecting a wound during surgery.

Sterile Fields
&. %he first principle of surgical asepsis states that all materials in a sterile field must be sterile. "ll objects added to your sterile field must also be sterile. f you put your hands into the sterile field, they must be co#ered using sterile glo#ing technique and the glo#es should also begin in sterile pac!aging. %he second principle states that a sterile barrier that has been compromised by punctures, tears or moisture has to be considered contaminated. f a sterile field has been set up and it is accidentally torn, the openings can allow microorganisms to in#ade and contaminate.

Sterile Borders
'. %he third principle states that once a pac!age is opened, a '.( cm )& inch* border around the edge is considered unsterile. For e+ample, many procedures contain setup of sterile pac!aging that is opened before sterile glo#es are applied. ,uring this time the & inch unsterile border is the only section that can be touched. %he fourth principle states that tables draped as part of a sterile field are considered sterile only at the table le#el. %herefore the table legs, underside of the table, or any shel#es below the table le#el are to be considered unsterile.

Sterility Questions
-. %he fifth principle e+amines questions or doubts. t states that if there are any questions or doubts about an object$s sterility, the object should be considered unsterile. %he si+th principle states that sterile people and objects should only come into contact with sterile fields, and unsterile people and objects should only come into contact with unsterile areas, such as the '.( cm border.

Movement and Range of ision

.. %he se#enth principle states that mo#ement around or in the sterile field must not compromise or contaminate the sterile field. /hile performing procedures requiring a sterile field, it is important to remember that correct sterile technique must always be followed. %he eighth principle says that anything out of your range of #ision or below waist le#el is considered contaminated and unsterile. For instance, if an object is dropped below the waist, it is no longer sterile. %he bac!side of the body, which is out of your range of #ision, is also considered unsterile. %herefore, you should ne#er turn your bac! on your sterile field and bring all tables needed in procedures up to your waist le#el.

Air !"posure
(. %he ninth and last principle of surgical asepsis states that a sterile object or field can become contaminated by lingering e+posure to air. /hile performing a sterile procedure, one should stay organi0ed and finish the procedure as quic!ly as possible.

1ead more2 3rinciples of "septic %echnique in an 4perating 1oom 5 eHow.com http266www.ehow.com6about7(8(..9:7principles;aseptic; technique;operating;room.html<i+008ydh-g&=3