Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) SLC Practice Exam

What technique is referred to as surgical asepsis?

1. Maintaining cleanliness in the environment

2. A method of ensuring all microorganisms are eliminated

3. Standard hygiene practices

4. Using medications to treat infections

The correct answer is: A method of ensuring all microorganisms are eliminated

Surgical asepsis, also known as sterile technique, specifically refers to the methods used to ensure that all microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and spores, are completely eliminated from an area or object before medical procedures. This is essential in preventing infections, particularly during surgeries or invasive procedures where the risk of introducing pathogens is high. In contrast, maintaining cleanliness in the environment involves general cleaning practices that reduce the number of pathogens but do not eliminate all microorganisms. Standard hygiene practices are important for infection control but may not achieve the level of sterility required in surgical settings. Using medications to treat infections pertains to post-exposure management rather than preventing infections through sterilization techniques. Therefore, the precise goal of surgical asepsis is to create and maintain a sterile environment, making the correct answer focused on the elimination of all microorganisms.