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UCSF IACUC GUIDELINES: ASEPTIC PROCEDURES FOR
RODENT SURVIVAL SURGERY (Revised February 28, 2005; Posted
May 8, 2004)
The following guidelines pertain to aseptic procedures
only; guidelines for the specifics of rodent surgeries are listed
under Guidelines for Rodent Surgery
Preparation of surgery area:
- Remove all clutter, sanitize counter/lab bench
with disinfectant (e.g. bleach solution, chlorhexidine, Clidox).
- Use
clean underpads, towels. Replace these materials after
each surgery session.
Preparation of surgery instruments/implants:
- The instruments, sutures, etc. should be placed in a
specially designed pack or wrapped in drapes or cloths, then steam
autoclaved. Please label autoclaved packs with date of sterilization.
Any implants should be sterilized; fragile implants may be gas-sterilized
or soaked in a 2% glutaraldehyde solution (soak for 10 hours)
or other chemical sterilant (not disinfectant) - rinse off
with sterile water before implanting.
- Prepare your surgery area, arrange
gas anesthesia mask, stereotax, etc. before unwrapping
instruments and putting on gloves.
Patient preparation:
- Induce anesthesia, test for surgical
plane (e.g. foot pinch).
- Remove fur where necessary.
- Disinfect incision site with
a disinfectant such as dilute chlorhexidine solution or Betadine
solution. Prepare incision site
by swabbing with prepared cotton swab from center to perimeter of the
shaved area (contact time with disinfectant solutions must be 3 min).
Ethanol is not an appropriate skin disinfectant, and
can cause hypothermia in rodents.
Surgeon preparation:
- Wash hands thoroughly.
- Surgeons should wear clean labcoat, bonnet,
face mask if the surgery is lengthy or a large incision, and
after patient preparation, sterile gloves.
- Note on gloves: If you are performing a surgery
where you do not EVER touch any animal tissue with your hands,
you may
wear new, clean, non-sterile gloves. Don a new pair of gloves after you have
prepared the surgery area and patient, before you start your surgery.
If you need to touch animal tissue with your hands, or there is any possibility
of this, you MUST wear sterile gloves.
During the Surgery:
- Handle your instruments to minimize contamination, i.e. touch
only the ends/handles of the instruments, and if a part of an
instrument has touched a non-sterile part of the animal, use bead sterilizer
before
putting it back with the other instruments, or touching the animal
again. Try to maintain the sterility of the instrument pack, do not
put any
non-sterilized objects (used gauze, etc.) on this surface.
For multiple surgeries:
- After the first surgery, clean the instruments and insert
each instrument into a hot bead sterilizer for at least 15
seconds. If gloves are soiled, change them; if not- spray with disinfectant
such as chlorhexidine or bleach solution. Follow all above
procedures
on
the next animal. It is recommended that a new set of sterile
instruments be used after every five animals. If known contamination
has taken place,
the instrument should not be reused before re-sterilization.
Post-operative:
- Scrub all instruments with soap and water. Dry them, and
re-assemble your sterile pack to be autoclaved again.
- Dispose
of all soiled drapes, pads, towels, etc. Place all sharps
in sharps disposal container.
Sources for Surgery Supplies:
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