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Clinical Nursing Research
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Strike-through Contamination in Saturated Sterile Dressings

A Clinical Analysis

Deborah M. Popovich

University of Florida

Doris Alexander

University of Florida

Maude Rittman

Veteran's Administration Medical Center

Christopher Martorella

Alachua General Hospital

Letitia Jackson

North Florida Regional Medical Center

This multisite study examined the risk of strike-through contamination of 4" x 4" gauze sponges using a shortcut method of saturating sterile sponges directly on their wrappers. Sterile gauze sponges were saturated directly on their wrappers on hospital over-bed tables of postoperative general surgical patients. Cultures were taken at 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 minutes after saturation to ascertain whether strike-through contamination occurred Saturated sponges showed significant microorganism growth when compared to expected zero microorganisms at all sampling times following saturation Although microorganisms identified in strike-through contamination were not microbiologically orpathogenically threatening, the basic principle of asepsis was violated There was no significant difference in strike-through contamination between sponges saturated on coated wrappers and sponges saturated on uncoated wrappers. Clinicians should be aware that coated wrappers do not provide a moisture-proof barrier against strike-through contamination. The findings suggest the shortcut method should not be used for saturating sponges.

Clinical Nursing Research, Vol. 4, No. 2, 195-207 (1995)
DOI: 10.1177/105477389500400206
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