Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Practice Exam

What is the purpose of a sterile field in the operating room?

1. Enhance visibility

2. Prevent infection

3. Support equipment placement

4. Ensure staff comfort

The correct answer is: Prevent infection

The primary purpose of a sterile field in the operating room is to prevent infection. Creating a sterile field involves a meticulous process of preparing the environment, instruments, and personnel to minimize the risk of surgical site infections. This is crucial because surgeries can introduce bacteria and other pathogens into the body, which can lead to serious complications, including postoperative infections. Maintaining sterility is accomplished through various means such as using sterile drapes, instruments, and gowns, as well as ensuring that only sterile items come into contact with the surgical area. The sterile field acts as a barrier to protect the surgical site from contaminants, thus playing a vital role in patient safety and successful surgical outcomes. While enhancing visibility, supporting equipment placement, and ensuring staff comfort are also considerations in the operating room, they do not carry the same level of significance as the prevention of infection, which is critical in surgical settings.