Explanation should include
- a description of medical asepsis (i.e., a microorganism-controlled environment)
- differentiation among the concepts of sterile, clean, and contaminated
- sources of contamination (e.g., dust, moisture, body fluid, fecal material, jewelry, shoes, food, hair, nails, clothes, hands)
- channels of contamination (e.g., operating room team, patients, equipment, furniture, air).
Process/Skill Questions:
- Why must operating room team members always keep their arms above their waist and their hands above their elbows?
- Why are operating room team members often reminded that, “Anything behind you is considered nonsterile”?
- How do operating room team members minimize the risk of contamination from the patient?