MbShea@PWP@English@UMCP

Abstract: Surgical site infection is the leading complication in patients who receive any type of surgery. Asepsis prevention in the operating room is a primary goal of all surgeons. In order to maintain the sterile field all members of the operating team must work together in an organized fashion to maintain the precautionary measures in place to prevent surgical site infections. The operating room is secluded from other parts of the hospital in order to minimize the bacteria that can enter into the room. Each surgeon and team member in direct contact with the patient or sterile tools must undergo scrubbing to remove any surface bacteria and be dressed in sterile gowns and gloves. In addition masks must be warn by every person in the operating room to prevent the circulation of bacteria through the air. If the sterile field is broken at anytime that person must step away from the sterile field and put on new sterile attire Keeping a sterile field in the operating room is one of the most important steps in patient safety and there are many techniques that must be carried out to maintain the sterile field, but many individuals are not aware of how complicated and meticulous infection control in the operating room can be therefore reviewing how to maintain the sterile field in all situations in the operating room is important.

WC= 227

Readers Profile: The reader will be an old surgeon who has been operating for many years. He does not believe keeping the sterile field is as important as my paper makes it seem since it was not emphasized as much when he was in medical school.

Readers Response: I have been a surgeon for so many years and I believe there are much worse things that can happen in the operating room than breaking the sterile field. With that being said I did not realize surgical site infections were the leading complication in patients who receive surgery. I was aware of all the techniques in place to prevent infection, but I never took them too seriously. I will make an effort to be more thorough when I am scrubbing in and I will try to be more aware of maintaining the sterile field while I am operating.

S -- any research on shame and hiding? As in you do not want to reveal that you broke field and you just stay in the team?

Do people always KNOW when they break field? Do people look out for one another? What about the hierarchy? Can a nurse really tell a surgeon that they broke field?

What happens when you sneeze or have an itchy nose?

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Perhaps a brief FAQ section would help with these incidents?