Aseptic Non-Touch Technique
Background; http://www.infectioncontrolmanual.co.ni/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=141&Itemid=121
Aseptic non-touch technique aims to prevent the introduction of micro-organisms into susceptible body sites.
Aseptic non-touch technique endeavours to prevent the introduction of micro-organisms into susceptible body sites, as may occur during invasive procedures. Its aim is asepsis, i.e. “the absence of pathogenic organisms or their toxins from the blood or tissues” (Wilson 1995)
Two types of asepsis can be classified: medical or surgical asepsis. Medical asepsis is a clean technique, aiming to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms. Surgical asepsis is a sterile technique, with the aim of eliminating all microorganisms, including spores, from an object or area during invasive surgical procedures. (Ayliffe 2000; Preston 2005)
Best practice is the use of either a surgical aseptic technique or an aseptic non-touch technique, depending on the situation (Pratt et al 2007).
Aseptic non-touch technique is a method to achieve medical asepsis (Rowley 2010), preventing contamination of wounds and other susceptible sites, and is a means of adopting unified good practices that can be standardized and audited (Aziz 2009). It has been suggested that the terms “clean” and “medical asepsis“ should no longer be used in favour of Aseptic non-touch technique. (Ingram et Murdoch 2009)
The overriding principle is that the susceptible or sterile body sites must not come into contact with non-sterile items (Wilson 2001); i.e. only uncontaminated equipment, referred to as ‘key parts’, or sterile fluids come into contact such sites during clinical procedures.
A “key part” is a component of equipment which, if contaminated increases the risk of infection; not touching it either directly (or indirectly) is perhaps the single most important factor in achieving asepsis. Aseptic non-touch technique is achieved by preventing direct or indirect contact of key parts by a non-touch method.
Equipment components not in contact with the susceptible site may be handled. (Hart 2007) For example in drug administration, key parts are those which come into contact with the liquid infusion e.g. needles, syringe tips, IV connectors, exposed central line lumens. In wound care, all of the dressing pack equipment is key parts.
Aseptic non-touch technique should be undertaken when performing an invasive or an aseptic procedure e.g. cannulation, venepuncture, IV drug administration, wound care, urinary catheterisation and central and peripheral line management.
Staff responsibilities;
Infection prevention control team must; Assist in the training of aseptic non-touch technique assessors in clinical areas.
Contribute to the review and update of aseptic non-touch technique policy.
Provide further advice if required regarding the implementation of aseptic non-touch technique.
Promote good practice and challenge poor compliance.
Contribute to audit of aseptic non-touch techniques.
Managers must;
Identify staff to undertake aseptic non-touch technique assessor training.
Ensure that staff may only undertake invasive techniques following aseptic non-touch technique training and assessment of competence in aseptic non-touch technique procedure.
Regular audit of compliance with aseptic non-touch technique policy.
Promote good practice and challenge poor compliance.
“It is the responsibility of managers to ensure that they oversee the development and implementation of this policy among staff. Education, training and assessment in the Aseptic Non-Touch Technique should be provided to all persons undertaking such procedures. A record of training should be available...and audit should be undertaken to monitor compliance with aseptic technique.” (The Health Act 2006)
Medical staff must;
Employ aseptic non-touch technique principles to all procedures requiring asepsis.
Ensure compliance with infection prevention and
