Question

1. What is an example of a routine procedure performed by surgical technologists prior to entering the sterile field that would be part of the aseptic technique? 2. List components of personal protective equipment (PPE) that serve as barrier protection for patients and personnel 3. Which vaccinations are required for personnel in the operating room and why? 4. Which historical figures in medicine are credited with recognizing the need for aseptic techniques to reduce wound infections? 5. Which set of measures are used in addition to Standard Precautions when the disease status of a surgical patient has been determined in advance? 6. Utilizing the AST Standards of Practice from the AST website (ast.org ), Standards of Practice for the Decontamination of Surgical Instruments, Standard XIV, what might be done with the contaminated instruments post-operatively to ensure no possible cross-contamination with future patients?

Answer 1

1)The routine procedure done by a surgical technologist before entering The surgical field are

• Wearing a surgical cap and surgical mask
• Change of personal clothing and wearing the clean apron available in the surgical unit
• Change of slippers available specially for the surgical unit (remove personal footware)
• Scrubbing ,generally a surgical scrubbing of hands are  done and kept above waist level or at chest level to prevent contamination

Then the technologist enters the sterile field and wears the sterile apron and sterile gloves and proceeds

2)The components of personal protective equipment that serve as barrier protection for patient and personnel   are

• Face mask ,respirator,surgical mask to avoid exposure to any harmful gases,foul smell from the wound or discharges categorized under respiratory protection
• Eye protection ,face shield,goggles(General,laser,chemical splash ,impact goggles), visor  
• Ear muff and plugs as heating protection
• Hand protection by usage of gloves, barrier creams prevents direct contact with the infectious things in the healthcare sector.
• Shoes and head covers to prevent contamination from the environment

3)The persons working in operating room must be vaccinated with Hepatitis B Vaccine because there is a high chance for infection due to exposure of blood and body fluids(semen,discharges,urine,saliva) of the patients.

The other recommended vaccine is Tetanus toxoid

4)The historical figures in medicine credited with recognizing the need for aseptic techniques to reduce eound infections are

• Ignas Semmelweis for hand washing
• Joseph Lister for practising antiseptic surgery or sterile surgery