Sterile Technique/ Sterile Fields
What is another name for sterile technique?
Surgical asepsis
A. Which part of a sterile package is considered contaminated?
B. Which part of a sterile package is considered sterile?
A. The outside
B. The inside
What happens to autoclave tape during the autoclave process?
It changes color.
What is the purpose of an autoclave?
To sterilize items using steam, heat, and pressure.
What should happen to an item after it has been stored for 30 days?
It must be rewrapped and resterilized.
What should you do if you suspect a sterile field has become contaminated?
Create the sterile field again.
What type of items may touch other sterile items?
Only sterile items
What does a color change on autoclave tape actually tell you?
It indicates that the item has been inside a heated autoclave, but it does not ensure sterility.
Why must space be left between items in an autoclave?
So steam can circulate and penetrate the items.
What kind of water do we use in the autoclave?
Distilled
Why should you never reach across a sterile field?
Microorganisms could drop from clothing onto the field and cause contamination.
What type of gloves should be worn when removing a dressing?
Non-sterile gloves
What are the three wrapping materials listed in the PowerPoint?
Muslin, autoclave paper, and autoclave bags.
How should jars and bowls be positioned in the autoclave?
On their sides
A medical assistant prepares a sterile field, but the field is accidentally left unattended. What should the medical assistant do and why?
The sterile field should be created again because once it has been left unattended, there is no way to know whether it remained sterile or became contaminated.
What is a sterile field & What is a sterile field usually made from?
1.An area set up for a procedure that is free from microorganisms.
2. A tray covered with a small sterile towel.
When opening a sterile package, what should ungloved hands touch?
Only the outside of the package
What two factors cause a sterility indicator to change appearance?
Temperature and the amount of time it is exposed.
How long do sterilized items remain sterile according to the PowerPoint?
30 days
When placing sterilized items into a storage container, where do the newer items go?
In the back.
Name three rules for working with a sterile field.
Any three:
What type of gloves should be worn when treating an open wound?
Sterile gloves
What is the difference between a sterility indicator and autoclave tape?
A sterility indicator is placed in the center of the package to help ensure that steam has penetrated the package and sterilization conditions were reached. Autoclave tape seals the package and changes color when exposed to heat, but the color change does not ensure sterility
What three things must be included when labeling items prepared for autoclaving?
Name of item, sterilization date, and initials.
Why must sterile items be kept above the waist?
Any area below the waist is considered contaminated.