Aseptic technique in clinical nursing settings: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Nursing Practice
• Infection Control
• Evidence-Based Healthcare

Background:

• Aseptic technique is fundamental to nursing and standard precautions.
• Current application of aseptic technique varies significantly among nurses and healthcare settings.
• Disparities in evidence-based literature contribute to inconsistent practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map the existing literature on asepsis and aseptic technique in clinical nursing.
• To clarify key concepts and definitions related to asepsis and aseptic technique.
• To identify variations in principles and application within nursing.

Main Methods:

• A systematic scoping review following Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
• Searches of Medline and CINAHL databases for studies published between 2004 and 2024.
• Screening and data extraction by multiple reviewers using Covidence.

Main Results:

• 31 articles were included from an initial 2812 studies.
• A significant number of papers lacked clear definitions for asepsis or aseptic technique.
• Variations in terminology and application of aseptic technique were noted across studies.

Conclusions:

• The review highlights considerable variation in the definition, principles, and application of aseptic technique in clinical nursing.
• There is a need for clearer, standardized definitions and consistent application of aseptic technique in nursing.
• Findings will inform future research on aseptic technique in nursing practice.