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The battle between sterile and antibacterial: where is the secret dividing line between the two?
With the advancement of medical technology, the concepts of sterility and antimicrobial properties have become increasingly important. In surgical and medical settings, the use of aseptic technique ensures patient safety, while antimicrobial technology strives to reduce the impact of pathogens. However, the line between the two is often confusing. Understanding the difference between sterility and antibacterial can not only improve the effectiveness of medical operations, but also help patients better understand the health risks they face.
Sterility refers to a state of being completely free of any pathogenic microorganisms, while antibacterial is a preventive measure taken against microorganisms that may cause infection.
A sterile environment is one that is free of any disease-causing microorganisms. This includes pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. In medicine, aseptic technology is divided into medical asepsis and surgical asepsis. The modern understanding of sterility can be traced back to the 19th century, when some far-sighted medical experts began to pay attention to the disinfection of surgical instruments and the use of sterile gloves during surgical operations, all in order to eliminate the occurrence of infection.
Historical BackgroundThe foundation of modern aseptic technology began in the 19th century, when the efforts of many scientists and doctors promoted the formation of the concept of aseptic technology. In 1847, Ignaz Semmelweis discovered that washing the hands of mothers before giving birth could effectively reduce the incidence of postpartum fever. Despite this, many hospitals still perform surgeries in unsanitary conditions, with some surgeons taking pride in their bloodstained scrubs.
In 1867, Joseph Lister promoted disinfection technology based on Louis Pasteur's germ theory, which significantly reduced the infection rate in surgical operations.
Lister's ideas prompted some surgeons to adopt carbonic acid for disinfection, which initiated the transition from antiseptic to aseptic. Over time, standards for aseptic surgery were developed and surgical procedures became further standardized. It wasn't until 1883 that Gustav Adolf Neuber introduced the first sterile surgical gown, and then in 1891 Ernst von Bergmann introduced the high-pressure steam sterilizer. , this device is used to sterilize surgical instruments.
The difference between antibacterial and sterile
The distinction between antimicrobial and sterile varies according to the situation and time period. In the past, antimicrobial procedures took place in the home or in the audience of an operating room. Over time, as the medical community came to accept Louis Pasteur's germ theory, antimicrobial and aseptic techniques came to be seen as complementary medical practices.
The fundamental concept of aseptic use is to ensure the cleanliness of the surgical environment and reduce the presence of pathogens to prevent infection.
Nowadays, aseptic is often seen as an extension of antimicrobial, with the core concept being to maintain a sterile environment around the wound or patient. These techniques and concepts are widely used in both surgical techniques and daily medical care.
Aseptic operation method
Aseptic surgery involves a range of procedures performed under sterile conditions, including medical and laboratory techniques. Aseptic methods can be divided into two categories: medical asepsis and surgical asepsis. Medical aseptic technique aims to reduce the number of microorganisms and prevent their spread, while surgical asepsis is the process of eliminating microorganisms from an area, mainly performed by surgical technicians and nurses. Successful aseptic processing relies on a comprehensive preparation workflow.
Basic aseptic procedures include frequent hand washing, wearing protective gloves, masks and surgical gowns, and disinfecting instruments and bed sheets.
In the operating room, all members of the surgical team should demonstrate good aseptic technique. Among them, the role of the surgical nurse or surgical technician is to set up and maintain the sterile field to prevent cross contamination between patients. These procedures often include sterilizing instruments using high pressure steam or using disposable instruments to reduce the risk of infection.
Related infections and challenges
Even in a sterile state, a chronic low-level inflammation caused by non-pathogenic causes may still occur, which is called sterile inflammation. This can occur as a result of trauma, stress, or environmental factors. Furthermore, despite healthcare workers’ high regard for aseptic technique during surgery, the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) still exists.
According to statistics, the incidence of surgical site infection is about 1-3%, and common infectious bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
In 2017, Staphylococcus aureus killed nearly 20,000 people in the United States, surpassing even the death toll from HIV. This emphasizes the need for both aseptic and antimicrobial measures during surgery to address the challenges posed by evolving drug-resistant bacteria.
In medical operations and daily life, how to effectively combine aseptic and antibacterial measures to better protect the safety and health of patients is worthy of our in-depth discussion and thinking?
