Aseptic Technique Practices
● Aseptic technique can be defined as a process of utilizing various techniques to reduce
the risk of microorganism transmission from one source to another.
Design and Workflow
● The workflow for the sterile processing department begins in the operating room.
● This occurs when the dirty items used on the surgical patient are sent down on a
dumbwaiter or pushcart to the decontamination (dirty) room.
● Those items are cleaned and decontaminated and then sent to the preparation area
where they’re assembled, packaged, and sterilized.
● It’s important to understand at minimum these five factors of maintaining aseptic
technique:
○ It’s mandatory that every item used within a sterile field must be sterile.
○ Any sterile barrier that has been penetrated or contained with moisture must be
considered contaminated.
○ After a sterile item is opened, the edges are always considered non-sterile.
○ If there are any uncertainties or doubts if an item has been sterilized, it must be
treated as contaminated.
○ Nonsterile personnel must touch only nonsterile items.
● In the sterile processing department, there are many ways to recognize a break in
aseptic technique:
○ Contaminated packages (dust, dirt, solutions, or moisture).
○ Rigid containers that are missing filters or locking mechanisms.
○ Clean or sterilized supplies that are located on dirty carts.
○ Improperly sterilized items.
Non-Touch, Clean, and Sterile Techniques
Non-Touch Technique
● Refers to the manner in which wound dressings are changed without directly touching
the wound, even if gloves are worn to avoid further infection.
Clean Technique
● The ultimate goal is to prevent microorganism transmission from fomites to vectors or
healthcare workers to patients.
○ Fomites- Nonliving surfaces.
○ Vectors- Living organisms that can spread disease.
■ Example: Mosquitos spread numerous diseases to humans such as zika,
malaria, and the West Nile virus.
Sterile Technique
● Sterile can be described as an object that’s free from all living microorganisms.
● You may work closely with the operating room staff when delivering surgical supplies and
equipment.
● Aseptic technique can be defined as a process of utilizing various techniques to reduce
the risk of microorganism transmission from one source to another.
Design and Workflow
● The workflow for the sterile processing department begins in the operating room.
● This occurs when the dirty items used on the surgical patient are sent down on a
dumbwaiter or pushcart to the decontamination (dirty) room.
● Those items are cleaned and decontaminated and then sent to the preparation area
where they’re assembled, packaged, and sterilized.
● It’s important to understand at minimum these five factors of maintaining aseptic
technique:
○ It’s mandatory that every item used within a sterile field must be sterile.
○ Any sterile barrier that has been penetrated or contained with moisture must be
considered contaminated.
○ After a sterile item is opened, the edges are always considered non-sterile.
○ If there are any uncertainties or doubts if an item has been sterilized, it must be
treated as contaminated.
○ Nonsterile personnel must touch only nonsterile items.
● In the sterile processing department, there are many ways to recognize a break in
aseptic technique:
○ Contaminated packages (dust, dirt, solutions, or moisture).
○ Rigid containers that are missing filters or locking mechanisms.
○ Clean or sterilized supplies that are located on dirty carts.
○ Improperly sterilized items.
Non-Touch, Clean, and Sterile Techniques
Non-Touch Technique
● Refers to the manner in which wound dressings are changed without directly touching
the wound, even if gloves are worn to avoid further infection.
Clean Technique
● The ultimate goal is to prevent microorganism transmission from fomites to vectors or
healthcare workers to patients.
○ Fomites- Nonliving surfaces.
○ Vectors- Living organisms that can spread disease.
■ Example: Mosquitos spread numerous diseases to humans such as zika,
malaria, and the West Nile virus.
Sterile Technique
● Sterile can be described as an object that’s free from all living microorganisms.
● You may work closely with the operating room staff when delivering surgical supplies and
equipment.
