What are key infection prevention practices when handling implants in arthroplasty?

• A. Minimal door openings during case management
• B. Sterile field maintenance is optional if gloves are sterile
• C. Aseptic technique, sterile processing, minimal door openings, careful implant handling with sterile instruments, maintain sterile field
• D. Only clean surfaces after surgery

Answer: (C)

Infection prevention during arthroplasty relies on preserving a sterile environment from the moment the case begins to the moment it ends. This means using aseptic technique consistently, making sure implants and instruments are properly sterilized and handled only with sterile tools, and maintaining a sterile field throughout the procedure. Keeping door openings to a minimum helps protect the operating room air from introducing contaminants, which is important because even small airflow disturbances can carry microbes toward the surgical site. Handling the implant with sterile instruments and with careful technique prevents contaminating the implant surface, which is critical because bacteria on an implant can seed a prosthetic joint infection. All these practices work together to prevent contamination across the entire workflow, not just after the surgery. Relying on post-operative cleaning or treating sterile field maintenance as optional would leave opportunities for contamination during the procedure and increase infection risk.