What is sterile technique?

• A. Practices that maintain a sterile field to prevent contamination.
• B. Wearing gloves in all situations.
• C. Sterile technique is not necessary for minor procedures.
• D. Sterile technique is only required in surgery.

Answer: (A)

Sterile technique is about creating and preserving a sterile field to prevent contamination. This means using sterile instruments and supplies, performing proper hand antisepsis, donning sterile gloves, and keeping the area free from non-sterile touch or exposure during procedures that require an aseptic environment. The goal is to stop microorganisms from entering wounds or sterile sites to prevent infection.

Wearing gloves is part of keeping things clean, but gloves alone don’t guarantee sterility. Maintaining a sterile field involves careful setup and handling of all items that will contact sterile areas. Also, sterile technique isn’t limited to surgery; many procedures outside the operating room require maintaining sterility to protect the patient, including minor procedures and wound care.