Distinguish between medical asepsis and surgical asepsis.

• A. Medical asepsis reduces microorganisms in the environment; surgical asepsis eliminates all microorganisms in sterile fields.
• B. Medical asepsis eliminates all microorganisms in sterile fields.
• C. Surgical asepsis reduces microorganisms in the environment.
• D. Both terms refer to same level of cleanliness.

Answer: (A)

Medical asepsis uses clean technique to reduce the number of microorganisms in the environment and on the people involved. It relies on hand hygiene, routine cleaning, and appropriate barrier use, aiming to lower the risk of infection but not to achieve complete absence of microbes. Surgical asepsis, on the other hand, employs sterile technique to create and maintain a sterile field where all microorganisms are eliminated from supplies, instruments, and the area of the procedure. Any break in sterile technique compromises the field and necessitates restarting. So the statement that medical asepsis reduces microorganisms in the environment and surgical asepsis eliminates all microorganisms in sterile fields reflects the correct distinction.