Surgical Asepsis (sterile technique)

Definition: 
Practices, which will maintain area free from microorganisms, as by surgical scrub, or sterile technique. Surgical asepsis is used to maintain sterilize. Use of effective sterile technique means that no organisms are carried to the client. Microorganisms are destroyed before they can enter the body.

Sterile technique is used when changing dressings, administering parentral (other than the digestive tract) medications, and performing surgical and other procedures such as urinary catheterization. With surgical asepsis, first articles are sterilized, and then their contact with any unsterile articles is prevented. When a sterile article touches an unsterile article, it becomes contaminated. It is no longer sterile.