Which statement correctly differentiates medical asepsis from surgical asepsis?

• A. Medical asepsis is clean technique to reduce pathogens; Surgical asepsis is sterile technique to keep area free from microorganisms
• B. Medical asepsis is sterilization; Surgical asepsis is disinfection
• C. Medical asepsis uses sterile equipment; Surgical asepsis uses cleaners
• D. Medical asepsis requires no hand hygiene; Surgical asepsis requires gloves

Answer: (A)

Medical asepsis is about reducing the number of microorganisms and preventing their spread through clean technique. Surgical asepsis is about creating and maintaining a sterile environment by keeping all areas and instruments free from microorganisms. That distinction is exactly what this statement conveys: medical asepsis uses clean technique to lower pathogens, while surgical asepsis uses sterile technique to keep a area entirely free of microorganisms. In practice, medical asepsis includes hand hygiene and cleaning surfaces, whereas surgical asepsis requires sterile instruments, a sterile field, and sterile gloves to prevent introducing any microorganisms into a wound or sterile site.