asepsis
[a-sep´sis] 1. freedom from infection or infectious material.
2. the absence of viable pathogenic organisms; see also
aseptic technique. adj.,
adj asep´tic.(See accompanying table.)
medical asepsis the use of practices aimed at destroying pathological organisms after they leave the body; employed in the care of patients with infectious diseases to prevent reinfection of the patient and to avoid the spread of infection from one person to another. This is achieved by
isolation precautions, in which the objects in the patient's environment are protected from contamination or disinfected as soon as possible after contamination.
surgical asepsis the exclusion of all microorganisms before they can enter an open surgical wound or contaminate a sterile field during surgery. See accompanying table. Measures taken include sterilization of all instruments, drapes, and all other inanimate objects that may come in contact with the surgical wound. All personnel coming in contact with the sterile field perform a surgical hand scrub with an antimicrobial agent and put on a surgical gown and gloves. Further information concerning
aseptic technique and technical aspects of perioperative nursing practice can be found in the publication
AORN Standards, Recommended Practices, and Guidelines, published by AORN, the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.