Page 129 - C:\Users\cbaro\OneDrive\Documents\Flip PDF Professional\Study Guide for the Orthopaedic Technology Certification Exams\

• Proper Hand Hygiene and Surgical Scrubbing:
o Use antimicrobial soap and scrub hands/forearms for a minimum of 2-5 minutes before
donning sterile gloves.
• Donning and Maintaining Sterile Gowns and Gloves:
o Use closed-gloving techniques to avoid contamination.
o Change gloves if torn, punctured, or compromised.
• Maintaining a Sterile Field:
o Sterile items must only touch other sterile items.
o Any object that falls below the waist or comes into contact with non-sterile surfaces is
considered contaminated and must be replaced.

2. Infection Prevention in Orthopaedic Procedures

Orthopaedic procedures involve implants, joint replacements, and treatment of open
fractures, which pose a high risk of infection if proper precautions are not followed. Infection
prevention strategies include:

• Preoperative Skin Preparation:
o Chlorhexidine gluconate or povidone-iodine solutions are recommended for antiseptic
skin preparation.
o Preoperative showers with antimicrobial soap reduce bacterial load on the skin.
o Ensure the surgical site is fully dry before making an incision to prevent chemical burns.
• Antibiotic Prophylaxis:
o Preoperative antibiotics (e.g., cefazolin, clindamycin for penicillin-allergic patients)
must be administered within 60 minutes of the surgical incision.
o In procedures lasting more than three hours, intraoperative antibiotic re-dosing may be
required.
o Postoperative antibiotics should be prescribed based on infection risk and patient
history.
• Environmental and Airflow Controls:
o Operating rooms should have positive pressure airflow with HEPA filtration to
minimize airborne contamination.
o The use of laminar airflow systems significantly reduces airborne pathogens in
orthopaedic procedures, particularly joint replacement surgeries.
o Restrict unnecessary personnel movement to prevent introduction of contaminants into
the sterile field.
• Implant Sterility and Handling:
o All orthopaedic implants must be handled with sterile gloves and opened using aseptic
technique.
o Avoid excessive handling of surgical implants to prevent contamination.
o Use antibiotic-coated implants in high-risk cases to reduce infection rates.
• Postoperative Wound Care and Monitoring:
o Apply sterile, moisture-resistant dressings to surgical incisions.
o Educate patients on signs of infection (e.g., redness, warmth, drainage, increased
pain).
o Conduct regular wound assessments to ensure proper healing and early detection of
infections.