====== 🧻 Sterile Towel: Definition ======

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A **sterile towel** is a piece of absorbent material that has undergone **validated sterilization procedures** and is used in medical or surgical environments to maintain **aseptic conditions**.

===== 🎯 Primary Uses =====
  * **Drying** the surgical site after [[skin cleaning]]
  * **Blotting** antiseptic without compromising sterility
  * **Creating sterile fields** or serving as **barriers** during draping
  * Assisting in **handling sterile instruments** or **gowning/gloving**

===== 🧪 Characteristics =====
  * **Sterile**: Packaged and sterilized (usually by autoclaving or gamma irradiation)
  * **Lint-free**: To prevent contamination
  * **Highly absorbent**: Usually cotton or synthetic blend
  * Supplied in **single-use sterile packaging**

===== ⚠️ Best Practices =====
  * Open package only when ready for use
  * Discard if packaging is compromised or towel is dropped
  * Do not use for drying hands unless part of a **sterile surgical scrub set**

===== 🧠 In Neurosurgery =====
  * Used to **blot antiseptic** on the scalp after drying (if permitted)
  * Included in **surgical packs** for cranial or spinal procedures
  * Must not touch non-sterile surfaces to maintain field sterility

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{{tag:definition sterile_towel surgery asepsis infection_control}}