In a surgical procedure, items held below the waist are contaminated.

In a surgical procedure, items held below the waist are contaminated.

• A. Not Sure
• B. Sometimes
• C. False
• D. True

Answer: (D)

In surgical asepsis, maintaining a sterile field is essential to prevent infection. The sterile field includes items that are sterilized and kept within the draped area, typically above the waist. Anything below the waist is considered non-sterile because it cannot be reliably kept sterile—clothing, shoes, and the floor can harbor contaminants. Movement and proximity to non-sterile surfaces increase the chance that contaminants will contact sterile items. Therefore, items held below the waist are contaminated, and should not be kept in or passed into the sterile field. This is why the statement is true.

In surgical asepsis, maintaining a sterile field is essential to prevent infection. The sterile field includes items that are sterilized and kept within the draped area, typically above the waist. Anything below the waist is considered non-sterile because it cannot be reliably kept sterile—clothing, shoes, and the floor can harbor contaminants. Movement and proximity to non-sterile surfaces increase the chance that contaminants will contact sterile items. Therefore, items held below the waist are contaminated, and should not be kept in or passed into the sterile field. This is why the statement is true.