Final answer:
Items on a sterile field may only be touched with sterilized tools to maintain asepsis and prevent sepsis. A medical item in contact with intact skin and not penetrating sterile tissues or mucous membranes is termed as 'noncritical'. Contaminated materials and equipment handling require stringent decontamination protocols.
Step-by-step explanation:
Items that have been placed on the sterile field may only be touched with other sterilized instruments or tools to maintain aseptic conditions. When carrying out medical procedures with a risk for contamination, it is crucial to use a sterile field maintained by proper aseptic technique to prevent sepsis. This includes the use of pre-sterilized equipment like pipettes, culture tubes, and glassware. Furthermore, critical medical items, including surgical instruments and catheters, require sterilization because they penetrate sterile tissues or the bloodstream.
In medical contexts, a medical item that comes into contact with intact skin without penetrating sterile tissues or coming into contact with mucous membranes is called a noncritical item. These items need to be clean but not necessarily sterilized.
It is also important to note that anyone handling contaminated specimens or equipment, or working with infected patients, must wear appropriate personal protective equipment and follow strict decontamination protocols after any skin contact.