Reflective Log – Aseptic Technique
In this reflection I am going to discuss a procedure that I have carried out whilst I have been on placement and the importance of infection control using the Aspetic Non Touch Technique (ANTT). The procedure I am going to discuss is a dressing change to a leg ulcer which took place during a routine home visit with the community nurse. I am going to use Gibbs Model of Reflection (1988), to reflect on the experience and evaluate my thoughts and feelings of the procedure, and to outline what I have gained from the experience for my future practice.
After observing my mentor and other nurses performing various dressing changes using the Aseptic Non Touch technique (ANTT), and practicing the procedure
It also states that the Non Touch Technique should be performed without directly touching the wound or any other surface it may come into contact with. Although at the time I thought I was performing the procedure using the Aseptic Technique upon evaluation of the experience I have realised that the procedure was not carried out using the Aseptic Non Touch Technique. By using my sterile gloves to remove the dirty dressing I contaminated my gloves, meaning they were no longer sterile. I then used the same gloves to clean the wound and apply new sterile dressings, meaning the procedure was not a sterile one. Despite the procedure not being sterile, it was however clinically clean. This is a modified Aseptic Technique, were the use of the sterile equipment is not as crucial. It employs the principals of the Non Touch Technique as outlined above, however the gloves can be clean as opposed to sterile (LCHS, 2011).
The Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines issued by the LCHS (Appendix 7) outlines the indications for when the clinically clean technique can be used as opposed to the Aseptic Technique. This includes the application of dressings to wounds such as leg ulcers and pressure sores within the patients’ own homes. As I was within the patient’s home and performing a dressing change on a leg ulcer, I was within the guidelines for clinically clean techniques.
After research into the different