Final answer:
Needle packages with multiple needles should be opened and counted before surgery primarily to ensure that the correct number of needles are available for the surgery, which assists in preventing post-surgical needle retention and contributes to maintaining proper sterile technique.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of the question relates to the practice of preparing for surgical procedures within the field of medicine, with a special focus on maintaining a sterile field. For routine surgeries, it is critical that suture packages remain unopened to maintain sterility. In contrast, needle packages with multiple needles should be opened and counted. The primary purpose of counting needles is to ensure that the correct number of needles are available for the operation. This process is also crucial for post-surgical counts to make certain that no needles are left in the surgical site. Ensuring the correct count before surgery establishes a baseline, which is then compared to the count after the surgery is completed to verify that all needles are accounted for. This practice is a part of proper aseptic technique and helps in preventing contamination and possible sepsis. The expiration date and the size of the needles are also checked during this process to ensure the needles are suitable for use, but these factors are not the main reasons for counting needles before the surgery.