Principles of Sterile Technique
This is the absolute minimum distance an unsterile person must maintain from the sterile field.
12in or 1 Foot
During a surgical hand scrub, the hands and arms must always be held in this position relative to the elbows.
What is higher than the elbows
This type of sterilizer uses steam under pressure and is the most common method for processing heat-resistant instruments.
What is Autoclave
Operating room ventilation systems must maintain this type of air pressure relative to the surrounding corridors to prevent contaminated air from rushing in.
What is positive air pressure
This term describes the soak-through of moisture from an unsterile surface to a sterile surface, which immediately contaminates the sterile field
What is strike-through contamination
On a draped surgical table, only this specific portion is considered sterile
Tabletop level only
This method of gloving must be used by the surgical technologist when donning gloves for the very first time before the case begins.
What is closed gloving
This liquid chemical agent can achieve high-level disinfection in 20 minutes, of full sterilization if items are completely submerged for 10 hours
What is Glutaraldehyde or Cidex
This is the minimum number of total air exchanges required per hour in an operating room to reduce airborne particulates
What is 20 air exchanges per hour
This standard protocol mandates that the entire surgical team stop what they are doing immediately before the first incision to verify the patient, site, and procedure
What is the Surgical Time Out
This is the direction sterile personnel must face when passing each other in the operating room
Front-to-Front or Back-to-Back
This is the area of the donned surgical gown that is officially considered sterile.
What is the front from the chest to the level of the sterile field and the sleeves from 2 inches above the elbow to the cuffs.
This specialized sterilization method is used for heat - and moisture sensitive items, utilizing a gas that requires a lengthy aeration cycle due to its high toxicity.
What is ETO
To limit microbial growth, the humidity in the OR must be strictly maintained within this percentage range
What is 20 to 60 percent
When a chemical indicator on an instrument tray does not change to the appropriate color after a cycle, the surgical tech must treat the load in this manner
What is considering the load unsterile and rejecting it
If a sterile gown is contaminated during a procedure, this is the correct sequence for changing it.
What is removing the gown first, followed by the gloves
When performing a timed surgical scrub or brush. scrub, this is the minimum standard duration required for the initial scrub of the day
What is 3 to 5 Minutes
This is the minimum temperature and exposure time required to sterilize wrapped instruments in a standard gravity-displacement steam sterilizer
What is 250F / 121C for 30 Minutes
This highly efficient air filtration system is used in the OR to remove particles down to 0.3 micrometers
What is HEPA filter
This is the rule regarding the use of a sterile field that was set up but left completely unattended in an empty OR
What is it must be considered contaminated and cannot be used
This is the rule regarding the sterility of a package when it is opened by an unsterile circulator.
What is the inside is sterile, but the 1- inch outer edge is unsterile
When a scrubbed team member needs to replace a contaminated glove during surgery, this specific gloving technique is preferred if assistance is available.
What is assisted open gloving
This type of biological indicator contains Geobacillus. Stearothermophilus and is used to test the efficacy of steam sterilizers.
What is a spore test or Biological monitor
This process describes the thorough cleaning and disinfecting of all OR surfaces at the very end of the daily surgical schedule
What is Terminal Cleaning
If a piece of hair is spotted resting on a sterile drape mid-procedure, this is the immediate protocol the surgical tech must follow
What is covering the hair with a sterile towel of drape, or removing it with a sterile instrument and discarding the instrument THEN covering the area with a sterile towel or drape