What are the core principles of surgical asepsis and how should a break in sterile technique be handled?

• A. Proceed with contaminated items.
• B. Maintain sterile field, proper glove technique, avoid contamination; pause, re-sterilize or replace contaminated items/field.
• C. Only the surgeon matters for sterility.
• D. Breaks are ignored.

Answer: (B)

Maintaining a sterile environment is the foundation of surgical asepsis. The sterile field must stay free of microorganisms, which means sterile items are handled only with sterile gloves, non-sterile surfaces stay outside the field, and drapes remain intact. When a break in sterile technique occurs—such as a torn glove, a contaminated instrument, or contact of sterile areas with non-sterile surfaces—the approach is to pause and restore sterility. Remove or discard the contaminated item or section of the field, re-prep and re-drape as needed, don new sterile gloves, and re-establish a fresh sterile field before continuing. Then proceed with meticulous sterile technique to prevent recontamination. This careful response minimizes infection risk and keeps patient safety at the forefront, rather than proceeding with compromised materials or ignoring the breach.