Aseptic Technique -- Continued

 

Skin Preparation for Sterile Procedures

1. Obtain a "skin-prep set" and a bottle of antiseptic for painting the skin. The preparation set includes a basin, liquid soap such as pHisoderm, gauze sponges, razor, towel, forceps and medicine cup.

2. Perform hand hygiene.

3. Place the patient in a comfortable position and ensure privacy.

4. Explain what is to be done.

5. Expose an area slightly larger than the preparation site, keeping the patient as completely covered as possible to provide comfort and modesty.

6. Fill the basin with warm water.

Note: If hair removal is not ordered, omit steps 7 to 10.

7. Using a gauze sponge, thoroughly wet the area to be shaved and apply soap, forming a lather.

8. Shave a small area at a time. Hold the skin taut with one hand and shave with short, firm strokes in the direction of hair growth. Rinse the razor frequently.

9. Rinse the area, removing all the hair.

10. Rinse and refill the basin with warm water.

11. Using soap and a fresh gauze sponge, cleanse the area completely. Starting at the puncture site, use a circular motion and scrub in ever-widening circles. Do not scrub harshly, but remember that friction is more effective than soap in cleansing the skin.

12. Use a sterile gauze sponge to remove the soap and water, again using a circular pattern and starting at the center. This pattern avoids recontamination of the area that has been cleansed.

13. Pour a little of the antiseptic into a waste container to cleanse the lip of the bottle.

14. Fill the medicine cup with antiseptic.

15. Grasp several gauze sponges with the forceps and dip them into the antiseptic.

16. Paint the skin with the antiseptic, starting in the center of the area and working outward in a circular pattern. Discard the sponge.

17. Allow the skin to dry.

18. Repeat steps 16 and 17.

19. Open the pack containing the sterile drape or sterile towels. The physician, wearing sterile gloves, will drape the area surrounding the prepared site.