This document discusses principles of aseptic technique in healthcare. It defines clean, aseptic and sterile techniques and provides examples of appropriate procedures for each. Clean technique uses hand washing and gloves for non-invasive care. Aseptic technique uses antiseptics and sterile gloves for short invasive procedures like catheter insertion. Sterile technique is for surgery and uses antiseptic scrubs, sterile gowns and equipment. The goal is to break the infection chain by reducing germ transfer between patients and staff.

1. PRINCIPLES OF
ASEPTIC Jamilah saad Alqahtani
Nurse
lecturer,MSN,BSN,RGN,OR
Specialist

2. LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
Be able to state the
requirements to Define
Infection control chain and
differentiate between clean,
aseptic or sterile technique
recommended for common
procedures. Demonstrate use
of the “SCRIPT” method to
prepare for and carry out
procedures
List the Principles of Aseptic
technique4: Clean, Aseptic, Sterile Slide 2

3. INTRODUCTION
The goal is to reduce health
care-associated infections. In
infection control chain explain
the process how the Germs
move to patients from hands,
and from objects used for
patient care. So in order to
break the chain infection we
have to understand the
different Use of clean, aseptic
or sterile technique to reduces
the number of germs
transferred and thus, reduces4: Clean, Aseptic, Sterile Slide 3

5. DEFINITION: CLEAN
TECHNIQUE
4: Clean, Aseptic, Sterile Slide 5
Clean technique
refers to the use of
routine hand
washing, hand
drying and use of
non-sterile gloves.
Use clean technique
if staff or objects
will touch intact
skin, intact mucous
membranes or dirty
(contaminated)
items
Clean tech is
appropriate for:
• Taking blood
pressures
• Examining patients
• Feeding patients

6. ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE is used for short
invasive procedures. It involves:
Antiseptic hand hygiene (
chlorhexidine)
Sterile gloves
Antiseptic (chlorhexidine ) on
patient’s skin
Use of clean, dedicated area
Example:
 inserting a urinary catheter
 suctioning

7. DEFINITION:
STERILE
TECHNIQUE
Sterile technique is used for surgery or the
preparation of sterile materials for multiple
patients. It involves:
Surgical hand rub with long acting
antiseptic or hand scrubs with
chlorhexidine gluconate or
povidone iodine solutions
Hands dried with sterile towels
Sterile field
Sterile gown, mask
Sterile gloves
Sterile supplies
Skin preparation

8. A dedicated
room: Use during
surgery and for
invasive
procedures with
high rates of
infection
Examples:
Any long invasive
procedure like surgery
in OR
Placement of central
lines

9. TO PREVENT
CONTAMINATION
Keep clean, dirty, and sterile
items separate:
Only put sterile items in a
sterile field
Change gloves and wash hands
if going from a contaminated
act to a aseptic or sterile act
Time skin antisepsis and
surgical hand hygiene with a
clock
The sterile field is considered
sterile except for the 2.5 cm
border So never place items
right on the edge of the sterile4: Clean, Aseptic, Sterile Slide 9

10. PLANNING
REDUCES
ERRORS IN
TECHNIQUE
S
USE THE
S.C.R.I.P.T.
REMINDER
TO PLAN
Space and work flow?
Clean, aseptic, or sterile technique?
Routine, aseptic or surgical hand hygiene?
Instruments and supplies?
Personal protective equipment?
Trash: sharps, infectious waste,
radioactive waste, pathology or routine
waste?
4: Clean, Aseptic, Sterile Slide 10

11. ASEPSIS AND ASEPTIC PRACTICES
IN THE OPERATING ROOM
PRINCIPLES
Principle #1
Scrubbed persons function within a sterile field.2
Principle #2
Sterile drapes are used to create a sterile field.2,5
Principle #3
All items used within a sterile field must be sterile.2,4
Principle #4
All items introduced onto a sterile field should be opened,
dispensed, and transferred by methods that maintain
sterility and integrity.2,4

12. PRINCIPLES OF ASEPTIC
TECHNIQUE
Principle #5
A sterile field should be maintained and monitored
constantly.2,5
Principle #6
All personnel moving within or around a sterile field
should do so in a manner to maintain the sterile field.2
Principle #7
Policies and procedures for maintaining a sterile field
should be written, reviewed annually, and readily
available within the practice setting.2

13. PRINCIPLES OF ASEPTIC
TECHNIQUE
8. The edge of anything that encloses sterile contents is not
considered sterile.
Never touch the rim of bottles/containers of sterile content.
Consider the rim of bottles unsterile.
Never touch equipment on rims of bottles.
Before using the sterile content pour a little amount to clean
the rim of its container.
9. Sterile persons keep within the sterile area.
10. Non-sterile persons keep away from sterile area.

14. PRINCIPLES OF ASEPTIC
TECHNIQUE
11. Sterile persons keep contact with sterile area to a
minimum.
Although sterile persons are sterile still refrain from touching
the sterile equipment to prevent still any contamination.
12. Moisture may cause contamination.
Sweat is moisture and may cause contamination. Your armpit
is one site so never place your hands under it or near it.
13. When bacteria cannot be eliminated from a field they must
be kept to an irreducible minimum.
14. Destruction of integrity of microbial barriers result in
contamination.
Your sterile gloves' pack should never be folded to prevent
crease and to prevent it from easily being torn and exposed

15. The goal of asepsis is to
prevent the contamination of
the open surgical wound by
isolating the operative site
from the surrounding
nonsterile environment.1 The
surgical team accomplishes
this by creating and
maintaining the sterile field
and by following aseptic
principles aimed at
preventing microorganisms
from contaminating the

16. Clean, aseptic and sterile
Examples of procedures
SCRIPT the procedure to
clearly define what is
expected and needed from
all team members to
reduce health care
associated infections
Principles of Aseptic
technique
4: Clean, Aseptic, Sterile Slide 16