By Leslie Canham, CDA, RDA Show Surgery assistants perform surgical hand antisepsis and understand how to don sterile gloves; however, many dental assistants do not routinely perform surgical asepsis. When surgical asepsis is required, special care must be taken to prevent transmission of pathogens via the hands to sterile or aseptic areas of the surgical field. Here are some things you need to know about surgical hand antisepsis and donning sterile gloves. The first step in infection control is hand hygiene Hand hygiene is any method that removes or destroys microorganisms on hands. It is well documented that the most important measure for preventing the spread of pathogens is effective hand washing. This is achieved by vigorously rubbing together all surfaces of lathered hands for at least 20 seconds, followed by rinsing. Hand washing suspends microorganisms and mechanically removes them by rinsing with water. The fundamental principle of hand washing is removal, not killing. The preferred method for hand hygiene depends on the type of procedure, the degree of contamination, and the desired persistence of antimicrobial action on the skin. For routine dental exams and nonsurgical procedures, hand washing and hand antisepsis are achieved by using soap and water. If the hands are not visibly soiled, an alcohol-based hand rub is adequate. The purpose of hand antisepsis and sterile gloves is to eliminate transient flora and reduce resident flora during a procedure to prevent introducing organisms into the wound if the gloves become torn. Skin bacteria can rapidly multiply under surgical gloves if hands are washed with soap that is not antimicrobial. Agents used for surgical hand antisepsis should reduce microorganisms on intact skin. They should contain a nonirritating antimicrobial preparation with a broad spectrum of activity, be fast-acting, and have a persistent effect.1 The minimum duration for surgical hand antisepsis is two to six minutes. Donning of sterile gloves Some dental procedures require sterile gloves. Dental assistants must adhere to proper protocols when donning sterile gloves to prevent transmission of pathogens. There are two techniques for donning sterile gloves. The first is called “closed donning” or the “closed cuff method.” The second is “open donning” or the “open cuff method.” “Closed donning” or “closed cuff method”
CLICK HERE to see step-by-step instructions for surgical hand antisepsis and donning and removing sterile gloves. Author bio References 1. Kohn WG, Collins AS, Cleveland JL, et al. Guidelines for infection control in dental health-care setting — 2003. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2003; 52(RR-17):15-18 Available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5217a1.htm. What is the purpose of a surgical scrub?The surgical scrub, when properly performed, has been shown to remove transient skin flora from the fingernails, hands and forearms; reduce the resident microbial population to an irreducible minimum; and slow the growth of bacteria in order to contribute to reducing the risk of a SSI.
Which action will the nurse perform first when preparing to apply sterile gloves?Which action would the nurse perform first when preparing to apply sterile gloves? Perform hand hygiene.
Why are scrub gown and glove procedures performed?As required by Standard Precautions, sterile gowns and gloves are worn to prevent the migration of microbes from the skin and scrub attire of the sterile team member to the sterile field. Additionally, sterile attire prevents blood and body fluids from contaminating the team member.
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