Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Sterilization is the process that eliminates all microorganisms-- including bacterial endospores--from instruments, drapes, and other items. A sterile field is an area created by placing sterile towels or surgical surgical drapes around the procedure site and on the stand that will hold sterile instruments and other items needed during the procedure. When a service provider is properly dressed in sterile surgical attire, the provider's sterile area is the only area that should come in contact with the sterile field. Only sterile objects and personnel may be allowed within the sterile field.
When a sterile field is created around a procedure site, items below the level of the draped client are outside the field and are not sterile. A properly gowned and gloved provider's sterile area extends from the chest to the level of the sterile field. leeves are sterile from ! cm above the elbow to the cuff.
Only sterile items are free of potentially harmful microorganisms. Once a sterile object comes in contact with a nonsterile object or person or with dust or other airborne particles, the object is no longer sterile. If even one nonsterile object or person enters the sterile field, the field is no longer sterile. "or example, sterile objects become contaminated if you touch the object with your bare hand, if the object comes in contact with dust or other airborne particles, or if the object is held below the level of the sterile field. To maintain the sterile field:
#o not place sterile items near open windows or doors. $lace only sterile items within the sterile field. #o not contaminate sterile items when opening, dispensing, or transferring them. %onsider items located below the level of the draped client to be unsterile. #o not allow sterile personnel to reach across unsterile areas or to touch unsterile items. #o not allow unsterile personnel to reach across the sterile field or to touch sterile items. &ecogni'e and maintain the provider's sterile area. &ecogni'e that the edges of a pac(age containing a sterile item are considered unsterile. &ecogni'e that a sterile or high-level disenfected )*+#, barrier that has been penetrated )wet, cut, or torn, is considered contaminated. -e conscious of where your body is at all times, and move within or around the sterile or *+# field in a way that maintains sterility or *+# status.