Health Skills I
Unit 101.2
Aseptic Techniques
Objectives
• Identify the practices of aseptic technique and
related terminology.
Terms
• Contaminated
– living organism(s)
present on an animate
or inanimate surface
– floors are always
considered
contaminated
– Septic is another
term for
contaminated
NOT
Terms
• Clean
– removal of foreign matter such as organic
material
– example
• fecal matter, blood, body fluids
• Sterile
– free of all living microorganisms
Terms
• Autoclave
– process of sterilization that uses heat and steam
under pressure to destroy all pathogens including
spores and viruses
• Disinfect
– removal of most pathogens through cleansing
solutions
Autoclaves
• Types of processes
used:
– Ethylene Oxide
– Chemical Vapor
– Steam
Medical Asepsis
(Clean Technique)
• refers to practices or procedures used to
ensure a clean environment by removing or
destroying diseases causing microorganisms
after each patient procedure
• Importance
– healthcare worker has DUTY AND OBLIGATION to
patient to do this
– must be ongoing battle
Surgical Asepsis
(Sterile Technique)
• refers to all practices and precautions that
ensure the environment is free of all
microorganisms
– aimed at destroying or stopping transmission
of ALL microorganisms
– special techniques for opening sterile
packages, and working from a sterile field
must be learned and practiced with precision
Principles of Aseptic Technique
• Keep sterile field within view
• Hold sterile objects above the waist
• Avoid spilling solutions on any cloth or
disposable sterile drapes.
• Keep hands below shoulder level.
Use Sterile Technique
• whenever entering area of body that is not
a natural route of entry
• when caring for wounds or burns,
performing catheterizations, suctioning,
tooth extractions, surgery, etc.
• failure to follow these guidelines could
cause illness or death to patient
Patient Care Guidelines
• wash hands before
and after patient
care, and handling
supplies
• handle dressing,
bandages and tissues
according to policy
• wrap damp or wet
items in waterproof
bags
• discard disposable
items
• use equipment and
supplies for one
patient only
• cover breaks in skin
with a sterile dressing
• prevent cross
contamination
Patient Care Guidelines
• keep food and
beverages clean
• floors are
contaminated
• avoid raising dust
– airborne
– do not shake linens
• clean from least
soiled to most soiled
• discard liquids
directly into drain or
toilet
• avoid spilling and
splashing
• keep rooms bright,
clean, dry, and airy
• if in question, ITS
CONTAMINATED
Open Skin Lesions
– healthcare workers with draining lesions or
weeping dermatitis, should refrain from direct
patient care or food handling
– report condition to supervisor for direction as
this may vary per facility or department
Healthcare Workers Should Be:
– *clean and neat
– *wash uniform daily
– *shower daily, including hair
– *have short hair or secure it back
– *brush teeth regularly
– *proper nail care (follow policy of facility) fake
nails may grow fungus under nail deadly to
patients
– *wear no jewelry
Handle Equipment
Properly
• failure to follow the
guidelines for correct
technique in handling
of equipment could
result in serious
infections to patient
or healthcare worker
Proper Cleaning
Solutions:
– bacteriostatic
• slows down or stops growth of bacteria
– bacteriocidal
• kills bacteria
– household bleach solution
• 1:10 ratio
• kills all pathogens on objects and surfaces cleansed
with solution
• must be made fresh daily
– iodine and alcohol
• frequently used on skin for disinfecting
Handwashing
– *prevents spreading infection
– *wash before gloving and after removal of
gloves
– *wash before & after every patient contact &
after exposure to blood or body fluids
– *single most important procedure to prevent
the spread of disease!
Handwashing
– *use 3 - 5 ml. of soap
– *vigorous friction
rubbing not to exceed
15 seconds
– *rinse with fingers
pointed down
– *dry fingertips to wrist
– *shut off faucet with
clean towel
Sanitation of
Equipment
– clean contaminated, reusable equipment by
cleansing with soap/water & brush. Rinse & dry
thoroughly before packaging & sterilizing
– sterilize reusable equipment that will invade the
body or mucous membrane
– disinfect reusable equipment used for noninvasive procedures
Knowledge Assessment
• Compare and contrast the terms contaminated,
clean, and sterile.
• List the types of autoclaved processes used.
• List the principles of aseptic technique.
• Understand the principles of patient care
guidelines involving asepsis.
• Contrast the different cleaning solutions.
• Identify key components in hand washing
considerations and technique.