Aseptic technique is the practice clinicians use to prevent the transfer of harmful germs (bacteria) to patients or healthcare workers during routine procedures. The goal is to keep specific equipment, surfaces, medical devices, and vulnerable areas of the body, such as an open wound, as free from contamination as possible during these procedures, thereby reducing the risk of infection.
This practice is essential to patient safety and a fundamental part of nursing practice, yet its terminology and principles remain inconsistently defined. Research shows a wide variation in nurses’ understanding and application of aseptic technique, and across both national and international guidelines. The aim of this research was to establish the empirical foundations for a contemporary, principle-based approach to aseptic technique in clinical nursing practice.
Three multi-phase sequential studies were conducted. A scoping review (Phase 1) mapped international literature on definitions and application of aseptic technique in clinical nursing settings. A cross-sectional mixed-method survey (Phase 2) captured the understanding and application of aseptic technique among 328 Australian and New Zealand nurses. A Real-Time Delphi study (Phase 3) engaged 49 Australian experts to establish consensus on the core principles underpinning aseptic technique. Â
Key insights:
The scoping review identified notable variation in the terminology and definitions surrounding aseptic technique across 31 included studies. The cross-sectional study survey confirmed these inconsistencies within the Australian and New Zealand context, with considerable variation in how principles were described; nearly half of the participants were unsure if their facility used a guiding framework, and over half reported not being reassessed in the previous five years. The Delphi study achieved consensus on nine principles and 35 practical implementation statements, collectively forming the proposed Principles of Aseptic Practice (PAP). Â
Impact and outcomes:
This research provides the first empirically derived consensus-based set of principles for aseptic technique in clinical nursing. The proposed PAP offers a foundation for consistent practice, policy, education, and clinical governance, with the potential to enhance patient safety and reduce healthcare-associated infections. Further research is required to validate the PAP in clinical settings, evaluate its integration into nursing education and guideline development, and examine its potential impact on patient outcomes and healthcare-associated infections across diverse healthcare contexts.Â
Research outputs:
Peer-reviewed journal publications
Kent, H. M., Dawson, S. A., Lewis, J. M., & Mitchell, B. G. (2025). Aseptic technique in clinical nursing settings: A scoping review. Journal of Hospital Infection, 165, 171-180.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2025.08.007
Kent H. M., Lewis J. M., Dawson S. A., & Mitchell, B. G. (2026). Australian and New Zealand nurses’ understanding and application of aseptic technique in clinical contexts: A cross-sectional mixed-method study. BMJ Open Quality;15, e003921. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2025-003921
Kent, H. M., Lewis, J. M., Dawson, S. A., & Mitchell, B. G. (2026). Contemporary clarification of aseptic technique in clinical settings: A Real-Time Delphi. Journal of Advanced Nursing. Under review.Â
Peer-reviewed conferences
Kent, H. M., Dawson, S. A., Lewis, J. M., & Mitchell, B. G. (2025). Aseptic technique in clinical nursing settings: A scoping review. Oral presentation at the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) Conference, Hobart, November 2025.
Kent, H. M., Lewis, J. M., Dawson, S. A., & Mitchell, B. G. (2025). Australian and New Zealand nurses’ understanding and application of aseptic technique in clinical contexts: A cross-sectional mixed-method study. Academic poster presented at the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) Conference, Hobart, November 2025.
Kent, H. M., Lewis, J. M., Dawson, S. A., & Mitchell, B. G. (2026). Contemporary clarification of aseptic technique principles in clinical nursing: A Real-time Delphi study. Oral Presentation at the National Nurses Forum, Australian College of Nursing Conference, Melbourne, August 2026.
Kent, H. M., Lewis, J. M., Dawson, S. A., & Mitchell, B. G. (2026). Contemporary clarification of aseptic technique principles in clinical nursing: A Real-time Delphi study. Academic poster presented at the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) Conference, Gold Coast, November 2026.
Kent, H. M., Dawson, S. A., Lewis, J. M., & Mitchell, B. G. (2025). Simply complicated: Exploring nurses understanding and application of aseptic technique in clinical settings. Discussion piece published in the Australian College of Nursing HIVE Magazine, Summer Issue, 2025.
Fields of Research Codes:
4202 EpidemiologyÂ
4203 Health services and systems
4205 NursingÂ
Status:
Current (Under examination)
Sustainable Development Goals:
