Which of the following is a sterile field breach?

• A. Contamination of gloves
• B. Hand hygiene performed before entering sterile field
• C. Using sterile gloves to touch only sterile areas
• D. Touching the sterile field with sterile gloves

Answer: (A)

Maintaining a sterile field means keeping it free from microorganisms at all times. Gloves are a key part of that barrier, so if the gloves become contaminated, microbes can be transferred to the sterile field, instruments, or the patient. This compromise means the sterile field is no longer sterile and decisions or steps would need to be redone to restore safety.

In contrast, hand hygiene before entering the sterile area ensures clean hands, using sterile gloves to touch only sterile areas keeps the barrier intact, and touching the sterile field with sterile gloves is appropriate as long as the gloves remain sterile and in contact with only sterile surfaces. Therefore, contamination of gloves is the breach of sterility.