The purpose of creating a sterile field is to reduce the number of microbes present to as few as possible . The sterile field is used in many situations outside the operating room as well as inside the operating room when performing surgical cases.
What is a sterile field?
Creating and maintaining a sterile field is an essential component of aseptic technique. A sterile field is an area created by placing sterile surgical drapes around the patient’s surgical site and on the stand that will hold sterile instruments and other items needed during surgery .
Why is it important to have a sterile field?
Maintaining a sterile field is an important component of infection prevention . These set of practices that are performed before, during and after invasive procedures reduce the number of potentially infectious microbes and help to reduce the risk of post procedure infection.
What does a sterile field include?
The sterile field is the designated area which is “free of bugs that can infect people” The sterile field can include can include surfaces, instruments, even people . Once a surgeon, tech or nurse is “scrubbed in” (hands washed, adorned in sterile garb), then he or she is part of the sterile field.
What is a sterile field and how do you maintain it?
- Disinfect any work surfaces and allow to them thoroughly dry before placing any sterile supplies on the surface.
- Be aware of areas of sterile fields that are considered contaminated:
How far should you stay away from a sterile field?
This square footage minimum is intended to accommodate the equipment and personnel necessary for one surgical field. For unsterile personnel, such as the circulator, to move around the sterile field without contaminating it, he or she should maintain a distance of at least 12 inches from the sterile field.
What happens if you break sterile field?
A break in sterility can result in infection and seriously harm the patient . Each year 1.7 million patients acquire a healthcare-associated infection (HAI) and almost 100,000 of them die. At least one in five of these infections could have been prevented.
What are the sterile techniques?
Sterile technique involves meticulous hand washing, use of a sterile field, use of sterile gloves for application of a sterile dressing, and use of sterile instruments .
What are 4 common aseptic techniques?
According to The Joint Commission, there are four chief aspects of the aseptic technique: barriers, patient equipment and preparation, environmental controls, and contact guidelines . Each plays an important role in infection prevention during a medical procedure.
What are the requirements for establishing a sterile field?
A clean, dry surface is required to set up a sterile field. Items below waist level are considered contaminated. Prepare sterile field as close to the time of procedure as possible.
Which is not considered part of a sterile field?
Any torn, previously opened, or wet packaging, or packaging that has been dropped on the floor , is considered non-sterile and may not be used in the sterile field. 2. A sterile object becomes non-sterile when touched by a non-sterile object. Sterile objects must only be touched by sterile equipment or sterile gloves.
When should a sterile field be set up?
Sterile supplies should be opened and set-up as close to the time of surgery as possible and for one surgery only . 1. Only one patient should occupy an OR and therefore, a single sterile field should be established.
How do you safeguard a sterile field?
- Involve all team members. ...
- Follow the same practices every day. ...
- Reduce conversation in the sterile field. ...
- Inspect instruments and trays for tears. ...
- Include a sterilization indicator with each item/tray. ...
- Be sure before using an item.
What are the 5 principles of aseptic technique?
These principles include the following: (1) use only sterile items within a sterile field; (2) sterile (scrubbed) personnel are gowned and gloved ; (3) sterile personnel operate within a sterile field (sterile personnel touch only sterile items or areas, unsterile personnel touch only unsterile items or areas); (4) ...
How do you break a sterile field?
Common breaks in sterile technique include diffi- culties encountered with sterilization , setting up and opening the sterile field, scrubbing and drying hands, gowning, gloving, positioning, prepping, draping, the OR environment, and surgical tech- nique.
How many inches is a sterile field?
Unscrubbed personnel should face the sterile field on approach, should not walk between sterile fields or scrubbed persons, and should maintain a distance of at least 12 inches from the sterile field and scrubbed persons at all times. f. Conversations in the presence of a sterile field should be kept to a minimum.
