What is Aseptic Technique?

Aseptic technique is the method involving a set of specific procedures and practices conducted with utmost caution, so as to minimize pathogenic contamination. The procedure makes sure no unwanted microorganisms enter the environment.

We all know that microorganisms are found everywhere in the environment. These microorganisms can infect our bodies and lead to grave infections, especially when one has undergone a surgery or has a wound. Thus, maintenance of aseptic environment is highly important.

In order to achieve an environment free from microorganisms two methods are used. One is the physical method, while the other is the chemical method. The physical method involves the procedure of autoclaving, while the chemical method comprises the method of gas sterilization.

The aseptic technique is widely practiced in hospitals to keep patients from contracting infections caused by microorganisms in the hospital environment. Surgical site infections are the third most common hospital-acquired infections. To prevent surgical wounds from contracting further infection, special care is taken to sterilize equipment and every other thing the patient will come in contact with during his or her stay in the hospital.

People with burns, immune system disorders, etc., are also highly susceptible to contracting infections. Thorough sterilization of the environment has to be done to protect such people. Moreover, this procedure is also important to prevent the spread of infection from one patient to another, and also prevent the infection from spreading to the medical staff treating them. This helps reduce mortality and morbidity caused by surgical infections and infections spread in hospital environment.

The training procedure conducted in hospitals begins with the first step of sterilization of every item the patient is going to come in contact with. Equipment or items falling to the ground must be sterilized once again. The surgical team will go through a surgical scrub procedure before carrying out a surgery, wherein, their hands and forearms will be washed by powerful, antimicrobial soap.

The sleeve cuffs of the gowns worn by the surgical team tends to collect a lot of moisture and does not act as a bacterial inhibitor. Thus, it is important for the surgical team staff to cover their sleeve cuffs with surgical sterile gloves. Sterile surgical fields are created in the operating room and medical equipment are sterilized by the chemical method using heat, radiation, or gas.

Microbiologists are always dealing with cultures of different kinds which can result in an infection, or cause contamination to the specimen or culture they are working on. An aseptic technique cell culture environment has to be attained.

The first step to attaining an aseptic environment is by preventing wind to blow into the lab from the outside. Air currents from outside the lab can conduce to airborne microorganisms, which can enter the culture medium and contaminate it. Thus, all doors and windows should be shut.

The next important aspect is to get all the transfer loops, needles, etc., sterilized before using it on the culture. This can be done in the Bacti-Cinerator. Moreover, while handling the agar plates, one should ensure that minimum surface area of the plate touches the surface. The less the contact with the surface, the less the chances of the agar plate to have microorganisms adhering to it. By maintaining these precautions, one can prevent pathogens from infecting the culture as well as the microbiologist working on it.

Aseptic techniques play a very important role and help us prevent the spread of unnecessary infection. Without these techniques we would have been battling a vicious cycle of infections.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.