Surgical Asepsis

1
Surgical Asepsis Minor Office Surgery

• Chapter 6

2
Vocabulary

• Abcess
• Anesthesia
• Asepsis
• Biopsy
• FNA
• Cautery
• Cyst
• Transfer forceps

• Don
• Ligate
• Ligature
• Mayo stand
• Postoperative
• Preoperative
• Sterile/sterile field
• Suture

3
Background of Sterile Technique

• Father of medicine 460BC
• Boiled water
• Galen boiled instruments
• Lister used chemicals
• Sterilization did not occur until 1880.

4
Principles and Practices

• Surgical asepsissterile technique or aseptic
  technique.
• Goal To prevent infection or the introduction
  of organisms into the body.
• Used in ALL procedures when there will be entry
  into a normally sterile orifice or opening.

5
Continued

• Breaks in sterile technique can cause infection.
• Costly Mentally, physically and financially.
• YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE!

6
Rules to live by

• Sterilize all supplies that are to be used in a
  sterile procedure.
• When in doubt..IT ISNT STERILE.
• Donning gloves..if you touch the outside, you
  have broken sterile technique.refer to slide 5.
• If you are wearing sterile glovestouch only
  sterile items.

7
More Rules

• If you puncture a sterile gloveit isnt sterile.
  Remove it..wash your hands and begin again.
• Outer wrappings are not sterile.
• Open sterile packages with the edges directed
  AWAY from you to avoid reaching over a sterile
  field.

8
Even More.

• Once you open a sterile packageuse it. If you
  dont use itreplace fabric items, sponges,
  materials, etc. and re-sterilize it.
• Do not talk, sneeze, of cough over a sterile
  field or object.
• Do not reach across a sterile field or wound.
• Keep movements to a minimum.

9
Last but not least!

• Do not spill fluid on the field.
• If it touches your skin..not sterile anymore.
• Keep the sterile field away from drafts,fans,
  windows..

• Store sterile packages in dry areas.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Be awareBe vigilent.

10
Handling Sterile Supplies

• Peel down packages may be used as sterile fields
  if opened correctly.
• To place items in the sterile field you need
  sterilized transfer forceps or sterile gloves.

11
Other options..

• Have someone who is not wearing sterile gloves to
  assist you.
• Treat the edges of a sterile field, on a flat
  surface, as if contaminated.
• You have a 1 outside border. If material falls
  over the sideit is no longer sterile.