An introduction to aseptic technique

Overview

Aseptic technique is the method adopted to eliminate all potential sources of contamination of the surgical field. Adopting high standards of asepsis will reduce the risk of post-surgical wound infections developing. This is important for both animal welfare and scientific reasons.

Wound infections can cause pain, distress, and if severe can result in the breakdown of the surgical wound and generalised infections that cause severe illness or death of the animal. Even low grade infections can result in changes to the animal’s physiology that may interact or interfere with specific research procedures.