Final answer:
Cross-contamination is the term for when a sterile object contacts a non-sterile item during medical procedures, which can cause nosocomial or iatrogenic diseases and is prevented by maintaining a sterile field.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that describes the scenario when a sterile object comes into contact with a non-sterile item in medical procedures is cross-contamination. This situation can lead to the transmission of microbes and potentially result in nosocomial or iatrogenic diseases. The goal of using aseptic technique is to maintain a sterile field to prevent such cross-contamination. Items used in medical settings are categorized as critical, semicritical, and noncritical, based on the level of sterility required. Critical items must be sterile as they penetrate sterile tissues or the bloodstream. Semicritical items require a high level of disinfection as they may contact mucous membranes or nonintact skin, while noncritical items, which may contact intact skin but not penetrate it, need only to be clean.