Meaning & use
asepsis
Last updated
UK/eɪˈsepsɪs/
US/eɪˈsepsɪs/
Meaning
noununcountable
The condition of being free from harmful microorganisms, especially during surgery or medical treatment.
Grammar: Uncountable: asepsis is vital in surgery.
Patterns
- maintain asepsis
Strict asepsis is required in the operating room.
The nurse maintained asepsis while changing the dressing.
Hospitals train staff in methods of asepsis.
Common combinations
- maintain asepsis
- Surgeons maintain asepsis at all times.
- surgical asepsis
- Surgical asepsis prevents wound infection.
- strict asepsis
- The ward demands strict asepsis.
- practice asepsis
- Dentists practice asepsis with every patient.
- break asepsis
- Touching the sterile field breaks asepsis.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sterility
- Sterility describes the complete absence of living organisms, while asepsis stresses keeping germs away.
- sanitation
- Sanitation concerns general cleanliness and public health, not sterile procedure.
- antisepsis
- Antisepsis kills germs on living tissue, while asepsis prevents their entry.
- cleanliness
- Cleanliness is a general word and less rigorous.
Opposites
Word family
- aseptic adjective
- free from germs
- aseptically adverb
- in a germ-free way
- antiseptic noun
- a substance that kills germs
- sepsis noun
- a dangerous infection response
Commonly confused: asepsis or antisepsis?
asepsis vs antisepsis
Antisepsis is killing germs on skin or tissue; asepsis is preventing germs from getting there at all.
Practice
Operating rooms follow strict ___ to keep germs away from the patient.
Choose one answer.
Asepsis is keeping the environment free of germs. Sepsis is an infection, the opposite of what is wanted.
Make it your own
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