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unphat -> RE: Catheter sizes (5/18/2008 6:50:10 AM)
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With sterile fields, it's important to be pedantic!
Chlorhexidine is favoured over Iodine to use as an antiseptic to wipe the area clean. Grab some sterile wool with sterile forceps and dunk them in chlorhexidine contained in a sterile container. Then roll the wet wool firmly over the area to be cleaned, eg. starting from the urethral opening for catheters, in concentric circles which get larger and larger in radius, making sure not to miss any spot. The principle is that as the wool contacts the skin (not sterile) it becomes unsterile, hence the first point of contact is the cleanest and should not be touched again, except for with sterile equipment. It is important however that the skin is scrubbed relatively firmly (especially where holes are or will be made), rather than gently coated with antiseptic.
Once an area has been 'sterilised', it is considered CLEAN and should only be touched with CLEAN, sterile equipment which should never touch anything else which isnt considered clean. Some consider even holding unsterile equipment over a sterile area is enough to contaminate the field, more a precautionary measure. If something considered clean does touch ANYTHING 'dirty' (ie anything not sterile), it becomes dirty and both surfaces need to be cleaned again or preferably, replaced. :D
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