Performing an aseptic technique in a community setting: fact or fiction?
- PMID: 21426614
- DOI: 10.1017/S1463423610000198
Performing an aseptic technique in a community setting: fact or fiction?
Abstract
Background: Maintaining the principles of asepsis when performing wound care and other invasive procedures is one of the fundamental approaches of preventing healthcare-acquired infection. Such an approach has been advocated for community practitioners.
Literature: The performance of an aseptic technique is an under-researched area. The few studies that have been conducted have identified how strict adherence to the technique is difficult and contamination of hands/gloves is common and that community nurses often have a fatalistic view about whether asepsis is possible in a community setting.
Aim: The overall aim of this research project was to examine how experienced practitioners have adapted the aseptic technique within a community setting and to what extent the changed procedure still adhered to the principles of asepsis.
Methods: This study used a mixture of non-participant observation and individual semi-structured interviews to examine adherence to the principles of the aseptic technique among the district nurses. Data were collected from one Trust in England with a total of 10 district nurses taking part and 30 aseptic procedures been observed.
Results: The results show that almost all of the staff understood the principles of asepsis and had adapted the standard procedure for use in a patient's home. Common challenges included wound cleaning using a single nurse procedure, the contents of the pack and the home environment. The research also identified misconceptions about clean versus aseptic procedures and a lack of training for staff.
Conclusions: This study highlights the challenges of maintaining the principles of asepsis in a home environment and the fact that district nurses are often relied upon to find creative solutions to such challenges. The study also highlights issues around the implementation of evidence-based practice and the need for clearer guidance about how evidence should be used alongside existing procedures.
Similar articles
-
Survey to explore understanding of the principles of aseptic technique: Qualitative content analysis with descriptive analysis of confidence and training.Am J Infect Control. 2018 Apr;46(4):393-396. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2017.10.008. Epub 2017 Nov 21. Am J Infect Control. 2018. PMID: 29169935
-
District nurses' and aseptic technique: where did it all go wrong?Br J Community Nurs. 2011 Jan;16(1):29-34. doi: 10.12968/bjcn.2011.16.1.29. Br J Community Nurs. 2011. PMID: 21278647
-
Perceptions and practice of concordance in nurses' prescribing consultations: findings from a national questionnaire survey and case studies of practice in England.Int J Nurs Stud. 2007 Jan;44(1):9-18. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2005.11.005. Epub 2005 Dec 15. Int J Nurs Stud. 2007. PMID: 16359677
-
The principles of aseptic technique in wound care.Prof Nurse. 1996 Sep;11(12):805-8, 810. Prof Nurse. 1996. PMID: 9137052 Review.
-
Preventing Health Care–Associated Infections.In: Hughes RG, editor. Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2008 Apr. Chapter 41. In: Hughes RG, editor. Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2008 Apr. Chapter 41. PMID: 21328782 Free Books & Documents. Review.
Cited by
-
Invasive Group A Streptococcus Outbreaks Associated with Home Healthcare, England, 2018-2019.Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 May;28(5):915-23. doi: 10.3201/eid2805.211497. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022. PMID: 35451366 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Implementing the Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT®) clinical practice framework for aseptic technique: a pragmatic evaluation using a mixed methods approach in two London hospitals.J Infect Prev. 2018 Jan;19(1):6-15. doi: 10.1177/1757177417720996. Epub 2017 Aug 4. J Infect Prev. 2018. PMID: 29317909 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources