Aseptic Technique Policy and Procedure

Purpose and Scope

This policy outlines HomeMade’s procedures for performing clean and aseptic techniques to prevent infection and ensure safe delivery of clinical care services. It applies to all staff and contractors involved in any clinical procedures requiring asepsis, including wound care, catheter management, and any invasive procedures in the home or community setting.

Definitions

Aseptic Technique

Aseptic technique is a set of practices that protect care recipients from healthcare-associated infections and protects healthcare workers from contact with blood, body fluid and body tissue. These practices include:

• Performing hand hygiene before and after procedures.
• Using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Establishing and maintaining an aseptic field.
• Using sterile equipment and ensuring the cleanliness of the environment.
• Applying non-touch techniques to key parts and key sites

Clean technique

A method used for routine procedures that require a reduced risk of infection but not sterility.

Sterile field

An area created using sterile equipment where no contamination is permitted.

Policy Statement

HomeMade is committed to preventing healthcare-associated infections through the use of appropriate clean and aseptic techniques during all relevant clinical procedures. All clinical staff and contractors must maintain competence in aseptic practice and adhere to current best-practice guidelines.

Responsibilities

Contracted Support Providers who are Registered Nurses or Enrolled Nurses

• Must follow this and other relevant HomeMade policies and procedures.
• Assess the need for aseptic technique and perform procedures accordingly.

Contracted Support Providers who are not Registered Nurses or Enrolled Nurses

• Must follow this and other relevant HomeMade policies and procedures.
• Must not perform aseptic procedures. If involved, they must operate under the direction of a Registered Nurse and follow infection control protocols.

Procedure

Indications for Aseptic Technique

Use aseptic technique when:

• Changing or managing indwelling urinary catheters
• Performing wound care and management
• Inserting or managing any invasive device, including but not limited to care of stoma’s, tracheostomy’s and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy’s (PEG)

Key Steps in Aseptic Technique

• Perform hand hygiene before and after the procedure
• Use gloves and PPE
• Prepare a sterile field using sterile equipment
  Avoid touching key parts of equipment or sterile sites
• Use single-use items where appropriate
• Maintain a no-touch technique

Break in Asepsis

If asepsis is breached:

• Discontinue the procedure immediately (if safe to do so)
• Re-establish a sterile field
• Report and document the breach according to HomeMade’s Incident Document Control

Version date May 2025