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Nursing Knowledge
In a medical context, “sterile” means free from all living microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, spores, and fungi. It is a state in which all forms of life have been killed or removed completely.
Nurses play a critical role in maintaining sterility in healthcare settings, from correctly sterilizing equipment to following appropriate infection control procedures, such as hand hygiene and using personal protective equipment (PPE). The nurse’s role is vital in protecting both patients and healthcare workers.
Aseptic technique is a set of practices used to prevent contamination and maintain sterility during medical procedures.
To maintain aseptic technique during medical procedures, you should:
Sterile gloves should be worn by healthcare workers when performing procedures that involve direct contact with sterile body sites, invasive medical devices, or sterile products. Examples:
Surgical site infection (SSI) is an infection that occurs after surgery in the part of the body where surgery took place. It can be caused by bacteria entering through incisions made during surgery or from other sources such as contaminated equipment or healthcare workers' hands.
To prevent surgical site infections, healthcare workers should follow proper aseptic technique during medical procedures, use appropriate PPE, properly clean and disinfect equipment and surfaces, and administer prophylactic antibiotics when appropriate. Clients can also help prevent SSIs by following preoperative instructions, such as bathing with antiseptic soap and avoiding eating or drinking before surgery.
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