Principles of Sterile Technique
The sterile field should be prepared only for this many patients.
What is one patient?
Before opening any sterile item, always check the package for these indicators.
What are package integrity, expiration date, and chemical indicator change?
Surgical hand antisepsis reduces these microbes on the skin.
What are resident and transient microbes?
Scrubbed team members should always face this
What is the sterile field?
The sterile field should be prepared as close as possible to this time.
What is the time of use?
When in doubt about an item’s sterility, you should assume this.
What is the item is contaminated?
When opening a rigid container, lift the lid in this direction.
What is up and toward yourself?
Surgical hand antisepsis must be performed before putting on these
What are the sterile gown and gloves?
Unscrubbed team members should avoid doing this near the sterile field.
What is reaching over it?
The sterile field should be protected during these times.
What is during periods of increased activity or patient positioning?
A sterile gown is sterile from this part of the body to the sterile field.
What is chest to sterile field and 2 inches above the elbow to the cuff?
The scrub person should check this inside the container before using instruments.
What is the sterile indicator?
If a glove is caught on a wire or drill bit, you should do this.
What is change the gloves?
Scrubbed members move around each other using one of these two methods.
What are face-to-face or back-to-back?
Proper way of dispensing medication and/or fluids is used with this device
What is a decanter
Below the instrument table or OR bed is considered this.
What is contaminated?
Peel packs are opened from this end.
What is the chevron end? (arrow)
When a contaminated instrument is found, the entire set is considered this.
What is contaminated?
Hands and arms should always stay above this level.
What is the waist?
If you have a two sterile back tables can you cross in between?
Do not walk between sterile fields.
This should be used to create a sterile field during surgery.
What are surgical drapes?
Items should not touch this part of the peel pack.
What is the unsterile sides?
Gloves should be changed every ___ to ___ minutes.
What is every 60 to 150 minutes?
When handling implants what considerations should be in place?
Minimal foot traffic, caution strap across OR door
If you notice bone cement on an instrument not from your current surgery what are your next steps?
What is break down and have a new set up? Contaminated table