asepticentry

Asepticentry, commonly written as aseptic entry, refers to the techniques and procedures used to gain access to a sterile field or environment without introducing microorganisms. It encompasses the actions of maintaining sterility during any entry into a sterile area, whether during surgical procedures, catheter placement, or sterile drug preparation.

It is applied in clinical settings such as operating rooms and procedural suites, as well as in manufacturing and laboratory environments including cleanrooms and sterile product compounding. The goal is to prevent contamination of instruments, drugs, or patient sites.

Principles include adherence to aseptic technique, proper hand hygiene, use of sterile gloves and gowns, masking and sterile draping, disinfection of entry surfaces, and use of sterile barriers and controlled airflow. Entry should be minimized and performed by trained personnel with a validated protocol.

Practices may involve air-handling systems like laminar flow, HEPA filtration, and controlled infection control policies, along with checklists and audits to detect breaches. Common breaches include movement in and out of the sterile field, touching nonsterile surfaces, or compromised barrier integrity.

See also: aseptic technique, sterile field, cleanroom, sterile barrier, sterile processing.