Barriers protect the patient from the transfer of pathogens from a healthcare worker, from the environment, or from both. Some barriers used in aseptic technique include:. Sterile barriers are those that have not touched a contaminated surface. Healthcare workers put them on or use them in specific ways that minimize exposure to germs.
Healthcare providers also use sterile equipment and sterile instruments. Maintaining a sterile environment requires keeping doors closed during an operation. Only necessary health personnel should be at the procedure. The more people present, the more opportunities for harmful bacteria to cause contamination. Once healthcare providers have on sterile barriers, they should only touch other sterile items. They should avoid touching nonsterile items at all costs.
A common procedure that carries a risk for infection is inserting a urinary catheter. These catheters drain urine from the bladder and are associated with catheter-associated urinary tract infections CAUTIs. When healthcare providers insert a catheter, they demonstrate all four aseptic techniques in action:. If even one part of the aseptic technique is missed during catheter insertion, the patient can easily get an infection.
Keeping the environment as clean as possible is always important in preventing infections. However, some situations call for aseptic technique while others call for clean techniques. Healthcare providers learn both aseptic and clean techniques as part of their training. The goal of the aseptic technique is to eliminate germs entirely. The goal of the clean technique is to reduce the number of germs whenever possible. Clean techniques are important for all healthcare providers and their patients because they prevent infections every day.
The reuse of syringes is not an accepted practice, as Arias points out, and can pose a serious threat. Sometimes people think it is okay to reuse a syringe if they change the needle. It doesnt happen too often, but just last year there was an outbreak of hepatitis C from doing that. They understand the not reusing the needle part, but the not reusing the syringes is very important too, she reminds us.
Arias offers one last tip. Try to let healthcare providers see that asepsis or introducing microorganisms to where they are not supposed to be occurs in a lot of what we do. So anything that you do that you think you can introduce organisms into the patients body, focus on what precautions you can take to avoid introducing those organisms. As for myself, writing for ICT has provided me with much knowledge of the endless insidious organisms lurking in the healthcare environment.
And I think the above research gives a good idea of the many different types of bugs that are lurking as well. Armed with that knowledge, I have to admit I find myself nearing insanity as my panic level continually rises as I compare and contrast my gained knowledge with my daughters pathetically low counts.
Unfortunately, I cant go down the hall and throw all caution to the wind like the nurses on my daughters ward that night. I also cant skip a handwashing before administering her biweekly injections without thinking about how I would never forgive myself if in that one incidence an organism transfer were to occur. Until my daughter outgrows this sinister autoimmune disorder, the thoughts, fears, worries, and aseptic and infection prevention practices will continue in my household indefinitely.
It is my hope that you and your facility will continue throughout the continuum of care indefinitely as well. Aseptic Technique forum. Aseptic Technique. Girou E, et. Misuse of gloves: the foundation for poor compliance with hand hygiene and potential for microbial transmission? J Hosp Infect. Arenas MD, et. A multicentric survey of the practice of hand hygiene in haemodialysis units: factors affecting compliance.
Nephrol Dial Transplant. Epub Mar Wong PN, et al. Vibrio vulnificus peritonitis after handling of seafood in a patient receiving CAPD. Am J Kidney Dis.
Archibald LK, et. Enterobacter cloacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa polymicrobial bloodstream infections traced to extrinsic contamination of a dextrose multidose vial. The aim of using ANTT is to prevent the introduction of micro — organisms into susceptible body sites Rowley The aim is asepsis i.
There are two main types of asepsis, medical and surgical. Medical asepsis refers to a clean technique to prevent and reduce the number of microorganisms. Surgical asepsis is a sterile technique, the aim being to eliminate ALL micro — organisms from an object or area during an invasive procedure.
ANTT can be used to achieve medical asepsis. The main principle of ANTT is that the susceptible or sterile body sites must not come into contact with non — sterile items Rowley Choice of Surgical or Standard ANTT is based on risk assessment, according to the technical difficulty of ensuring Key-part and key-site asepsis. Healthcare professionals use aseptic technique to protect patients from infection. This article will explain different types of aseptic technique, how it differs from clean technique, and how to use it at home.
A person is vulnerable to infection as soon as there is a break in their skin, regardless of whether it occurs as a result of an accidental injury or a surgical incision.
Aseptic technique helps prevent healthcare-associated infections HCAIs. An HCAI is an infection that a person acquires as a result of treatment from a healthcare professional. These types of infection are a significant concern in the healthcare community. HCAIs can lead to severe health complications for affected individuals and disciplinary consequences for medical facilities.
Additionally, HCAIs have a significant economic impact. Aseptic techniques range from simple practices, such as using alcohol to sterilize the skin, to full surgical asepsis, which involves the use of sterile gowns, gloves, and masks. Healthcare professionals use aseptic technique practices in hospitals, surgery rooms, outpatient care clinics, and other healthcare settings. Using aseptic technique prevents the spread of infection by harmful germs.
Healthcare professionals use aseptic technique when they are:. Aseptic technique and clean technique are two closely related healthcare practices that both aim to keep people safe from infection.
The aim of using aseptic technique is to eliminate germs, which are disease-causing microorganisms. Clean technique focuses on reducing the number of microorganisms in general. Healthcare professionals learn both aseptic and clean techniques and use them in different situations. Clean technique is often sufficient for long-term care, in-home care, and some outpatient clinical settings. Healthcare professionals use clean technique for people who are not at high risk of infection.
For example, they may use clean technique when changing the dressing on a wound that is healing.
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