Villamil, Meriel Louise Anne J.

Ateneo de Davao University

BSN 3A

8 Principles of Surgical Asepsis

1. All items used within a sterile field must be sterile.
2. All sterile barriers that have been permeated must be
considered contaminated.
3. Edges of sterile containers are considered unsterile once the
package is opened.
4. Gowns are sterile in front from shoulder to table level and
from the sleeves to 2 inches above the elbows.
5. Tables are sterile only on the table level.
6. Sterile persons and items only touch sterile areas; unsterile
persons and items only touch unsterile areas.
7. Movement around the sterile field must not contaminate that
8.

field.
All item or areas of doubtful sterility are considered
contaminated.