GENERAL RULES OF ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE

Surgical team members remain within the sterile area.

movement out of the sterile area may encourage cross-contamination.

Talking is kept to a minimum.

talking releases moisture droplets laden with bacteria

Movement in OR by all personnel is kept to a minimum; only necessary personnel should enter the OR

movement in the OR may encourage TURBULENT AIR FLOW resulting in cross contamination

Non scrubbed personnel do not reach over sterile fields

dust lint or other vehicles of bacterial contamination may fall on the sterile field.

Scrubbed team members face each other and the sterile fields at all times

a team member's back is not considered sterile even if wearing a wraparound gown.

Equipment used during surgery must be sterilized.

unsterile instrument maybe a source of cross-contamination.

Scrubbed personnel handle only sterile items; non scrubbed personnel handle only non sterile items.

non scrubbed personnel and non sterile items may be a source of cross-contamination.

If the sterility of an item is questioned, it is considered contaminated.

non sterile, equipment may be a source of cross contamination.

Sterile tables are sterile only at table height.

items hanging over the table edge are considered non sterile because they are out of the surgeon's vision.

Gowns are sterile from mid chest to waist and from gloved hand to 2 inches above the elbow.

the back of the gown is not sterile even if it is a wraparound gown.

Drapes covering instrument tables or the patient should be moisture proof.

moisture carries bacteria from a non sterile surface to a sterile surface (strike-through contamination).

moisture carries bacteria from a non sterile surface to a sterile surface

strike through contamination

If a sterile surface touches the sealing edge of the pouch that holds it during opening, it is considered contaminated.

Once opened sealed edges of pouches are not sterile.

Sterile items within a damaged or wet wrapper are considered contaminated.

contamination can occur from perforated wrappers or from strike-through from moisture transport.

contamination can occur from perforated wrappers or from strike-through from moisture transport.

• the axillary region of the gown is not considered sterile.

• Hands may not be folded in the axillary region, rather they are clasped in front of the body above the waist.

If the surgical team begins the surgery seated, they should remain seated until the surgery has been completed.

the surgical field is sterile only from table height to the chest; movement from sitting to standing during surgery may promote cross-contamination