What is a crucial practice for maintaining a sterile field during surgery?

Maintaining a sterile field during surgery is essential to prevent surgical site infections and ensure patient safety. Handling instruments with gloved hands only is crucial because gloves provide a barrier between the surgical team and the instruments, reducing the risk of contamination. When team members maintain their focus and avoid touching non-sterile surfaces or instruments with their gloved hands, they significantly contribute to the integrity of the sterile field.

A sterile field is created by ensuring that all items within its boundaries are free from potential contaminants. Using gloves is a fundamental practice that helps uphold this standard, as they are designed to be sterile and protect both the patient and surgical instruments from harmful microbes. This practice complements the overall protocols of aseptic technique, emphasizing that everything introduced to the sterile field must remain uncontaminated, which is vital for surgical success and patient safety.