What are essential elements of sterile technique for vascular ultrasound?

• A. Skin antisepsis with chlorhexidine alone is sufficient
• B. Skin antisepsis with chlorhexidine, sterile drapes, sterile gel, sterile probe cover, sterile gloves/gown as needed, and maintaining a sterile field
• C. Only gloves are necessary
• D. No sterile precautions are necessary

Answer: (B)

Sterile technique in vascular ultrasound means combining solid skin antisepsis with a maintained sterile field to prevent infection during invasive access. Skin antisepsis with chlorhexidine (ideally in alcohol) reduces the surface bacteria, but that step by itself doesn’t stop contamination from the equipment and materials that touch the patient. To truly protect the patient, a sterile field is established: sterile drapes surround the site, sterile gel is used so the gel itself isn’t a contamination source, a sterile probe cover protects the transducer from introducing organisms, and sterile gloves (and a sterile gown if needed) are used so everything that touches the patient remains sterile. Keeping the field sterile throughout the procedure is essential; any breach requires re-establishing sterility.

Other options miss key components—relying on antisepsis alone ignores the need for sterile barriers and equipment, and using only gloves or lacking sterile precautions exposes the patient to infection risk.