Which practice is essential to sterile technique?

• A. Cleaning instruments with soap and water after use only.
• B. Doubling the use of gloves during any procedure.
• C. Methods used to prevent contamination by maintaining a sterile field and asepsis during procedures.
• D. Medication administration guidelines for sterile water.

Answer: (C)

Maintaining a sterile field and asepsis during procedures is the essential practice. Sterile technique means handling sterile items and performing tasks in a way that prevents contamination, so microbes don’t enter the patient’s body or the wound. This includes proper hand hygiene, using sterile gloves and instruments, preparing and maintaining a sterile area, and avoiding any breaches that could introduce pathogens—such as touching nonsterile surfaces, coughing over the field, or placing items on nonsterile surfaces. When these principles are followed, the risk of infection is minimized and patient safety is protected.

Cleaning instruments after use is important, but it occurs after the procedure and doesn’t by itself prevent contamination during the procedure. Doubling gloves isn’t a standard method to ensure sterility and doesn’t address maintaining a sterile field. Guidelines for administering sterile water relate to specific medication delivery, not the broader practice of preventing contamination during procedures.