After the drape is in place, which parts are considered nonsterile?

After the drape is in place, which parts are considered nonsterile?

• A. The edges or anything falling below the OR table.
• B. The central draped area.
• C. The top surface of the patient.
• D. The sterile surface of the table.

Answer: (A)

Establishing a sterile field relies on drapes creating a boundary that separates sterile from nonsterile areas. Once in place, the area contained by the sterile drapes and the surfaces that contact sterile instruments and the patient within that draped zone are considered sterile. The edges of the drapes and anything that falls below the operating room table are outside this boundary, because they can contact nonsterile surfaces and are not protected by the drape barrier. Therefore, those parts are nonsterile.

Establishing a sterile field relies on drapes creating a boundary that separates sterile from nonsterile areas. Once in place, the area contained by the sterile drapes and the surfaces that contact sterile instruments and the patient within that draped zone are considered sterile. The edges of the drapes and anything that falls below the operating room table are outside this boundary, because they can contact nonsterile surfaces and are not protected by the drape barrier. Therefore, those parts are nonsterile.