Chapter 2 Sterile Technique

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Chapter 2Sterile Technique

Chapter 2Sterile Technique


Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI)

• Also known as nosocomial infections

• Acquired by patients whose natural defenses against infection are often missing or overridden in the health care setting

• HAIs are very expensive in terms of money and human life


Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) (cont.) Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) (cont.)

• The CDC estimates that 250,000 patients a year get an HAI just from urinary catheters alone

• Patients with an HAI need additional treatment and longer hospital stays, and incur higher health care costs

• The CDC also reports that between 10% and 25% of patients who acquire an HAI die


Sterile TechniqueSterile Technique

• Involves:

– Creating a sterile field (a microbe-free area to work in)

– Using equipment and supplies that have been made sterile (completely free of microbes) to minimize the risk of infection


Levels of Sterilization for Equipment and SuppliesLevels of Sterilization for Equipment and Supplies

Category I: Critical—for items that carry a very high risk because they penetrate the skin or are placed in body cavities that are normally free of microbes

Category II: Semi-critical—for items that come into contact with mucous membranes and carry a moderate risk for causing infection

Category III: Non-critical—for items that come into contact with intact skin and carry a lower risk for causing infection


High-level DisinfectionHigh-level Disinfection

• Involves using a very strong chemical to kill microbes on items that will come in contact with a person’s skin or mucous membranes

• Kills almost all microbes except for some bacterial endospores


SterilizationSterilization

• The most complete method of killing all microbes

• Kills microbes as well as endospores


QuestionQuestion

What is the most complete method of killing all microbes as well as endospores?

A. High-level disinfection

B. Sanitation

C. Sterilization

D. Disinfection


AnswerAnswer

C. Sterilization

Sterilization is the most complete method of killing all microbes; it kills microbes as well as endospores.


Sterile PackagesSterile Packages

• Fabric-wrapped: items inside are sterilized onsite

• Envelope-wrapped package: one corner is opened at a time to create a sterile field; may be made of fabric or paper

• Peel/sterilization pouches: small sterile items wrapped in a combination of paper and plastic. Both sides are peeled at the same time, enabling the user to carefully drop the item onto the sterile field


Indications That an Item Is SterileIndications That an Item Is Sterile

• Commercially prepared items have writing on the outside of the packaging

• Items that are sterilized onsite will have two chemical indicator strips

– Outside strip changes color after being processed

– Indicator strip inside the package will also change color to show the sterilizing agent penetrated the packaging


Indications That an Item Is Sterile (cont.)Indications That an Item Is Sterile (cont.)

• The sterility of items is maintained as long as a sterile package is stored properly and the packaging material is not damaged or placed on a wet surface


QuestionQuestion

Tell whether the following statement is true or false.

Sterilized items usually reach expiration in about one (1) year

A. True

B. False


AnswerAnswer

B. False

Sterilized items have no expiration date.


When Creating a Sterile Field, You Need: When Creating a Sterile Field, You Need:

• A sterile area where other sterile supplies can be opened, arranged, and moved around

• A place where sterile supplies can be opened in a manner that does not contaminate them or the sterile field

• Sterile gloves to arrange and use sterile supplies within the sterile field, and, if you wish, sterile transfer forceps to move items around within the sterile field.


Procedures That Require a Sterile FieldProcedures That Require a Sterile Field

Inserting urinary catheters

Giving injections

Starting intravenous (IV) lines

Changing sterile dressings


QuestionQuestion

All instruments, supplies, and gloved hands remain sterile so that _______ are not introduced into the body

A. Asepsis

B. Calories

C. Microbes

D. Disinfection


AnswerAnswer

C. Microbes

Sterilization prevents endospores and microbes from entering the body.


Guidelines for sterile itemsGuidelines for sterile items• a sterile object may not touch a nonsterile object

• sterile objects must not be wet. Moisture draws microorganisms into the sterile object

• a one in border is between an sterile area and a nonsterile area (place sterile items in the center of the sterile field away from the edges)

• do not turn your back on a sterile field ( you can’t see the field and don’t know what touched it)

• Anything below the waist is considered out of the sterile range (all surgery trays should be positioned above the waist, hold all above waist)

• All sterile objects must be held in front and away from the body


Do not cough, sneeze, or talk over a sterile field

Do not reach over the sterile area

Do not pass contaminated dressings or instruments

over the sterile field.

Contaminated instruments should be placed in a

separate container or area

Be aware of actions in order to determine if the

sterile field has been compromised

Guidelines for sterile item


Outer wrapper of sterile packages are contaminated

and should be opened without touching the inner

contents

Sterile solutions in bottles should be poured into

sterile basins or sups on the sterile field without

touching the rim of the bottle and without splashing

solution onto the sterile

Guidelines for sterile items


Using an Envelope-Wrapped PackageUsing an Envelope-Wrapped Package


Using a Sterile DrapeUsing a Sterile Drape


Pouring Liquid Into a Sterile ContainerPouring Liquid Into a Sterile Container


Transfer ForcepsTransfer Forceps


Sterile Gloves Sterile Gloves


THINK ABOUT ITTHINK ABOUT IT

• You are working at the bedside of Mrs. Thomas, preparing to assist the nurse with a sterile dressing change. You have created a sterile field on the over-bed table and you are arranging the supplies for the nurse to use. Mrs. Thomas is occasionally a bit disoriented as the result of her pain medication. Suddenly, she reaches up to the field and removes a stack of gauze sponges you have just arranged. What should you do? What steps could you take to prevent this from happening in the future?


• You must discard the sterile field and set up a new one. Explaining to Mrs. Thomas that sterile technique is being used to lower her risk of infection and helping her to understand how sterility is maintained may help to prevent this from happening in the future.



• You are preparing to set up a sterile field and open sterile supplies for a procedure in a patient’s room. You plan to arrange your sterile field on the over-bed table. What must you do to prepare this area before setting up the sterile field?


• The over-bed table must be cleaned with a disinfectant, and dried thoroughly.



• It is time for the sutures to be removed from Mr. Wilson’s wound. Kari, the nurse you are working with, is preparing to carry out this procedure using sterile technique. You have assisted her by setting up the sterile field and opening the sterile supplies. You are now wearing sterile gloves and have everything neatly arranged for the procedure. Right before Kari starts to clean Mr. Wilson’s wound, you notice a hole in one of your gloves, and you are not sure how it got there. What should you do?


• First, you must alert Kari that the sterile field may have become contaminated, so that she can stop the procedure. Then you must discard the sterile field and set up a new one.

Chapter 2 Sterile Technique

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