Editing Infection Control and Safety (section)

== Medical and Surgical Asepsis ==

; Medical asepsis (clean technique)
: Practices that '''reduce the number''' of microorganisms and limit their spread. Hand hygiene, cleaning equipment, standard precautions, and routine dressing changes on chronic wounds are medical asepsis. The essential rule is clean to dirty: clean from the least contaminated area toward the most contaminated, and never return a used item to a clean supply.
; Surgical asepsis (sterile technique)
: Practices that '''eliminate all microorganisms, including spores'''. Required for surgery, insertion of urinary catheters and central lines, tracheostomy care, lumbar puncture, and dressing changes on fresh surgical wounds and burns.

Sterilization methods include steam under pressure (autoclave), ethylene oxide gas for heat-sensitive items, dry heat, and chemical sterilants. Disinfection is a lower level process for inanimate surfaces; antiseptics are used on skin.