Aseptic Technique

Capping
Surgical caps, scrub caps, surgical
hats, or bonnets are worn during
surgery by health care professionals to
keep their hair covered.
Surgery requires a completely sterile
environment and must be free of any
hair or other foreign objects. These
caps, like the rest of their work attire,
is mandatory.
 FACE MASK
 Reduce the risk for transmission of
organism by the droplets and airborne
routes and by splatters of body substances.

 CDC recommends that mask be worn:

1. By those close to the client if the
infection is transmitted by large particle
aerosols or droplets. E.g. Measles,
mumps or acute respiratory disease in
children
 FACE MASK
2. By person entering a room if the
infection is transmitted by small
particles. Special mask should be
worn ( N95) e.g., PTB and SARS
 FACE MASK
Certain techniques requiring surgical
asepsis (Sterile technique) , mask are
worn for 2 reasons:
1.To prevent droplet contact transmission
of exhaled micro-organism to the sterile
field or to clients open wound.
2.To protect the nurse from splashes of
body substances from the client.
 DON THE FACE MASK
1. Locate the top edge of the
face mask. The mask usually
has a narrow metal strip
along the edge.

There are 2 sides of surgical mask and the white color side contains filter.
The corrective ways of use are:
1. If we have flu, the white side should attach to our face (the
color side faces out) to filter the micro- organism not to spread them
out to others
2. If we are not ill, the white side should face out to protect micro-
organism from environment to come to contact with us.
 DON THE FACE MASK
1. Locate the top edge of
the face mask. The mask
usually has a narrow
metal strip along the
edge.
There are 2 sides of surgical mask and the white color side contains
filter. The corrective ways of use are:

1.If we have flu, the white side should attach to our face (the color
side faces out) to filter the micro-organism not to spread them
out to others with us.
 DON THE FACE MASK
2. If we are not ill, the white side should face
out to protect micro-organism from
environment to come to contact
 Don the face Mask
2. Hold the mask by the two
strings or loops.
3. Place the upper edge of
the mask over the bridge of
the nose., and tie the upper
ties at the back of the head
or secure the loops around With the edge of the mask under the
the ears. If glasses are worn, glasses, clouding of the glasses is less
fit the upper edge of the likely to occur.
mask under glasses.
4. Secure the lower edge of the To be effective, a mask must cover
face mask under the chin, and tie both the nose and the mouth,
the lower ties at the nape of the because air moves in and out of
neck. both.

5. If the mask has a metal strip, Secure fit prevents both the
adjust this firmly over the bridge of escape and the inhalation of micro-
the nose. organisms around the edges of the
mask and the fogging of the
eyeglasses.

6. Wear the mask only once, and A mask should be used only once
do not wear any mask longer than because it becomes ineffective
manufacturer recommends or when moist
once it becomes wet.
 GOWNING
Surgical gowns play a crucial role in asepsis by
reducing the transfer of bacteria from the skin of
the surgical staff to the air in the operating room.
Wearing surgical gowns and other medical
apparel (i.e. surgical masks, gloves, etc) is vital
because there will always be microorganisms on
or in the human skin, even after conducting strict
hygienic and sterilization procedures. 
 GOWNING
The purpose of surgical gowns and other
protective clothing is not only to keep
bacteria from entering surgical wounds,
but to also protect the surgical staff from
blood, urine, saline, or other chemicals
and bodily fluids during surgical
procedures.
GLOVES:
Gloves are worn for 3 reasons:
1)Protect the hands when the nurse is
likely to handle any body substances.
2)Reduce the likelihood of nurses
transmitting their own endogenous
micro-organism to individuals
receiving care.
3)Reduce the chance that nurses
hands will transmit micro-organism
from one client or a fomite to another
client.
GLOVES:
2 primary reason why hands
are cleansed each time gloves
are removed.
1.Gloves may have
imperfections or be damaged
during wearing so that they
could allow micro-organism
entry
2.Hands may become
contaminated during glove
removal.
2 method in Donning Sterile Gloves
1. Open Method 2. Close method
 Most frequently used  Nurse wear a gown
 No need to wear a gown
Closed Method
 Donning a Sterile Gown and Gloves (Open
Method)
Preparation:
1. Check client record and ask about latex allergies.
Use non-latex whenever possible.
2. Put-on Cap and mask

3. Assemble equipment:
• Sterile pack containing a sterile gown
• Sterile gloves

4. Ensure sterility of the package of gloves.

 Donning a Sterile Gown and Gloves

Procedure :

5. Introduce yourself and verify the client’s

identity. Explain to the client what you are
going to do, why it is necessary, and how the
client can cooperate.

6. Provide for client privacy.

 Donning a Sterile Gown and Gloves
Procedure (Continuation):

A. Donning a Sterile Gown

7. Open the package of sterile gloves.
•Remove the outer wrap from the sterile gloves and
leave the gloves in their inner sterile wrap on the sterile
field.

8. Unwrap the sterile gown pack.

9. Perform hand hygiene.
 Donning a Sterile Gown
Procedure (Continuation):
10. Put on the sterile gown.
•A. Grasp the sterile gown at the crease near the neck, hold it
away from you, and permit it to unfold freely without
touching anything, including the uniform.
•B. Put the hands inside the shoulders of the gown, and work
the arms partway into the sleeves without touching the
outside of the gown.
•C. If donning sterile gloves by using the open method, work
the hands down the sleeves and through the cuffs.
•D. Have a coworker grasp the neck ties without touching the
outside of the gown and pull the gown upward to cover the
neckline of your uniform in front and back. The coworker ties
the neck ties.
 Donning a Sterile Gloves
Procedure (Continuation):
• E. Have a coworker take the two ties at each side of the
gown and tie them at the back of the gown, making sure
that your uniform is completely covered.
• D. When worn, sterile gowns should be considered sterile
in front from the waist to the shoulder. The sleeves should
be considered sterile from 2 inches above the elbow to the
cuff, since the arms of a scrubbed person must move across
a sterile field.
 Donning Sterile Gloves (Open Method)
Procedure :
11. Open the package of sterile gloves.
•Place the package of gloves on a clean, dry surface.
•If the gloves are packed in an inner as well as an outer package,
open the outer package without contaminating the gloves or the
inner package.
•Remove the inner package from the outer package.
•Open the inner package maintaining a sterile field, or according to
the manufacturer’s directions. If no tabs are provided, pluck the flap
so that the fingers do not touch the inner surfaces.
 Donning Sterile Gloves
(Open Method)
Procedure (Continuation):
12. Put the first glove on the dominant hand.
•A. If the gloves are packaged so that they lie side by side,
grasp the glove for the dominant hand by its folded cuff edge
(on the palmar side) with the thumb and first finger of the
nondominant hand. Touch only the inside of the cuff
•B. Insert the dominant hand into the glove and pull the glove
on. Keep the thumb of the inserted hand against the palm of
the hand during insertion.
•C. Leave the cuff in place once the non-sterile hand releases
the glove.
 Donning Sterile Gloves
(Open Method)

Procedure (Continuation):

13. Put the second glove on the nondominant hand.

•A. Pick up the other glove with the sterile gloved hand,
inserting the gloved fingers under the cuff and holding the
gloved thumb close to the gloved palm.
•B. Pull on the second glove carefully. Hold the thumb of the
gloved first hand as far as possible from the palm.
•C. Adjust each glove so that it fits smoothly, and carefully pull
the cuffs up by sliding the fingers under the cuffs.
 Removing a Sterile Gown
Procedure (Continuation):
14. Remove and dispose of used gown.
•There is no special technique for removing sterile attire. If
they are soiled, remove them by turning them inside out.

15. If appropriate, document that sterile technique was

used in the performance of the procedure.
 Removing the Mask
1. Remove the mask at the doorway to
the client’s room. If using a respirator
mask, remove it after leaving the room
and closing the door.

2. If using a mask with strings, first untie This prevents the top part
the lower strings of the mask. of the mask from falling
onto the chest.
3. Untie the top strings and, while holding
the ties, securely remove the mask from
the face. If side loops are present, lift the The front of the mask
side loops up and away from the ears and through which the nurse is
face. Do not touch the front of the mask. breathing is contaminated.
4. Discard a disposable mask in the
waste container.

5. Perform proper hand hygiene again.