Sterile Technique

Overview

Sterile technique creates a pathogen-free environment during invasive procedures. Breaks are the leading preventable cause of SSIs.

Principles

• Only sterile items within the sterile field
• Sterile persons touch only sterile items
• Field created close to use time, never left unattended
• Gowns sterile from chest to field level, elbows to cuffs in front
• Tables sterile only at table-top level
• Package edges contaminated once opened
• Moisture enables strike-through contamination
• When in doubt, consider it contaminated

Creating the Field

Surgical hand scrub, sterile towel drying, closed-gloving technique. Drapes placed from near to far, never repositioned toward incision.

Breaks

Common: reaching across field, hand below waist, non-scrubbed person touching sterile items, moisture contamination.

Must speak up immediately regardless of who caused the break or their rank. Patient safety is the priority.