What is essential for maintaining a sterile field in the operating room?

Maintaining a sterile field in the operating room is crucial for preventing infection and ensuring patient safety during surgical procedures. Limiting the number of personnel present is essential because it minimizes the potential for contamination. Each additional person can introduce more microorganisms into the sterile area, increasing the risk of infection. By restricting the number of individuals in the operating room, the surgeon and the sterile team can better control the environment and adhere to protocols that support the integrity of the sterile field. This practice is a fundamental aspect of infection control in surgical settings.

While using disposable items, regularly wiping surfaces, and changing scrubs can contribute to overall cleanliness and infection prevention, they alone do not address the primary concern of reducing the number of individuals present, which directly impacts the likelihood of maintaining a sterile environment.