Certified Medical Assistant (CMA AAMA)Safety and Infection ControlHard
A medical assistant is preparing to perform a sterile procedure. During the setup, the MA turns their back to the sterile field to retrieve additional supplies. Which of the following is the most appropriate action to take immediately after turning back to the sterile field?
- AContinue the procedure as planned, assuming the field remains sterile.
- BCover the sterile field with a new sterile drape.
- CDiscard the current sterile field and set up a new one.
- DSpray the sterile field with an antiseptic solution.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Discard the current sterile field and set up a new one.
Turning one's back to a sterile field breaks sterility because the MA cannot see if the field has been contaminated. Any unobserved sterile field should be considered contaminated and must be discarded and re-established.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Assuming sterility after turning away is incorrect and compromises patient safety. Sterility cannot be guaranteed if unobserved.
- B. Covering a potentially contaminated field with a new sterile drape does not remove the underlying contamination.
- D. Spraying with antiseptic is insufficient to re-establish sterility for a compromised sterile field; it's used for skin, not sterile surfaces.
Maintaining Sterile Field Observation
A sterile field must always remain in direct observation. If a healthcare worker turns their back to it, the field is considered contaminated and must be re-established.
- Constant direct observation.
- Turning back breaks sterility.
- Must be discarded and reset.
Memory trick: Turn Your Back? Start From Scratch!