FIVE PRINCIPLES OF ASEPSIS HOW TO

Surgery, performed properly, does not need prophylactic antibiotics or any other treatments, other than pain relief.

This means that instruments are sterilized, the surgical working surface is disinfected, and the animal and the surgeon's hands are disinfected.

The goal of aseptic technique is to reduce or eliminate where possible the normal bacterial burden present on the animal and in the environment before beginning surgery.

If there is any question of approval for surgery or approval for the use of animals, do not proceed.

Make sure this approval is in place before beginning.

All surgical procedures must be approved by the local ethical or legal authority ( IACUC or Ethics committee or Home Office, etc.).

Before Performing Surgery, Be Aware That There Are Legal and Ethical Requirements Around the Use of Animals in Research and Teaching This article is designed to supplement hands-on training by the user's institution.ġ.

This article summarizes and makes recommendations for basic surgical skills and techniques necessary for successful rodent surgery.

FIVE PRINCIPLES OF ASEPSIS HOW TO

It may also make learning how to perform a particular surgery difficult, as the new surgeon is learning both a surgical technique and the principles of asepsis at the same time. For most new surgeons, this vital information is presented in piecemeal fashion or learned on the job, neither of which is ideal. The principles of aseptic technique, however, often remain unexplained or untaught. Surgery itself is a technical skill, and one that will improve with practice. Students, post-doctoral scholars, and others interested in performing surgery on rodents as part of a research protocol may not have had formal surgical training as part of their required coursework.

For both scientific and animal welfare reasons, training in basic surgical concepts and techniques should be undertaken before ever seeking to perform surgery on a rodent.

Five principles of asepsis