Final answer:
Folding arms with hands in the axilla while wearing a sterile gown and gloves can contaminate the sterile field due to the presence of bacteria and sweat in that area, risking patient safety by potentially introducing microbes into a sterile environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
When wearing a sterile gown and gloves, you should NOT fold your arms with the hands in the axilla because this area is not considered part of the sterile field.
The axilla, or underarm area, is naturally populated by bacteria and is more likely to perspire, which can compromise the sterility of the gloves.
Medical procedures with a risk for contamination require a sterile field to prevent sepsis, and placing sterile-gloved hands in the non-sterile axillary region risks transferring microbes from the skin to the gloves, and subsequently to the sterile environment or equipment such as the pipette and media mentioned, which should never come into direct contact with hands, skin, or non-sterilized surfaces.
Handwashing is crucial for health-care workers to prevent the transfer of microbes between patients and after removal of gloves. If contamination does occur, immediate washing and disinfection protocols need to be followed to prevent any potential infection and spread of microbes. This maintains the rigorous standards necessary for aseptic technique in medical environments.