Aseptic Technique

By Kasper Møller, MD and Helene Rasmussen, BSN

 

Nosocomial infections after surgical procedures can lead to morbidity and death. To reduce the risk of postsurgical nosocomial infections, all members of the surgical team must know the aseptic techniques and increase their focus on decontamination practices, hand hygiene, and behavioral precautions in and around the surgical suite. Hand transmission is a major factor in the spread of nosocomial infections and the surgeon must meticulously clean his or her hands, nails, and forearms to reduce the resident microbial count and inhibit the rebound growth of microorganisms.