Download Clean and Sterile Technique

Infection Prevention and Control – Clean and Sterile Technique
Strength of Evidence Level: 3
PURPOSE:
To define the use of clean and sterile technique in
accordance with infection control standards.
4.
5.
CONSIDERATIONS:
1. Clean, No Touch Technique:
a. Most often in homecare it is an acceptable
practice unless your agency’s policies or
physician orders indicate otherwise.
b. Refers to reducing the overall number of
microorganisms present or to preventing or
reducing the transmission of microorganisms
from one person to another or from one place to
another.
c. Involves hand hygiene, using barriers and
sterile materials and supplies, maintaining a
clean environment, and preparing a clean field
to prevent the direct contamination of supplies.
d. Clean technique also includes using detergents
to remove soil and a disinfectant to clean up a
spill of blood or other infectious material
2. Sterile Technique:
a. Refers to rendering and maintaining objects and
areas free from microorganisms.
b. Involves thorough hygiene, the use of sterile
barriers, and the use of sterile instruments and
materials.
c. In the home, a sterile field should be
established to prevent transmission of
microorganisms from the environment or from
the person to person.
d. Involves using a sterile barrier and at a
minimum, wearing sterile gloves.
e. In the home setting, maintaining a clean
environment is not always within direct control
of the agency, however, the immediate
environment should be maintained as clean as
possible.
f. If possible, turn off ceiling fans and close doors
to reduce the potential for airborne transmission
of microorganisms.
3. Once sterile solutions are opened, they must be
dated and discarded at established intervals.
6.
7.
8.
SECTION: 14.04
__RN__LPN/LVN__HHA
When opening the item take extreme care to make
sure the inside does not touch anything on the
outside.
Do not touch any sterile item with your hands.
Always wear sterile gloves before touching sterile
items.
Always place sterile items only on a sterile surface.
This may include a separate sterile tray or
cloth/paper barrier. The inside of the sterile package
can be used as the sterile surface, if it has not
touched a non-sterile item.
Perform sterile or clean procedure.
Dispose of soiled supplies in appropriate containers.
AFTER CARE:
1. Document procedure performed in patient's record.
2. Educate patient and/or caregiver in dressing
technique and signs and symptoms of infection as
appropriate.
3. Instruct patient and/or caregiver in importance of
maintaining a clean environment and keeping
supplies clean and dry.
REFERENCES:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2007)
Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing
Transmission of Infectious agents in Healthcare
Settings. Recommendations of CDC and the Healthcare
Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee
(HICPAC). Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/gl_isolation.html
Rhinehart, E., & McGoldrick, M.M. (2006). Infection
Control in Home Care and Hospice. Sudbury, MA: Jones
and Bartlett.
EQUIPMENT:
Sterile gloves or non-sterile gloves
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Sterile tray or items for procedure to be performed
PROCEDURE:
1. Perform hand hygiene.
2. Inspect all packaging. If damaged, wet or stained,
DO NOT use the items. Verify that the expiration
date has not expired.
3. Inspect all bottles or solution bags for signs of
contamination. This includes chips, tears, cracks,
cloudiness, discoloration or solid items floating
inside, no matter how small.
631
Last Update 9/10
(This page intentionally left blank)
632
Last Update 9/10