During airway suction, what type of asepsis should the nurse use?

Surgical asepsis is essential during airway suctioning because this procedure involves access to sterile body areas, such as the trachea and bronchi. Maintaining a sterile environment minimizes the risk of introducing pathogens that could lead to infection or complications in the patient. During airway suctioning, the goal is to clear secretions effectively while ensuring that the suctioning equipment and technique do not compromise the sterility of the airway.

Medical asepsis, though important for general cleanliness, does not provide the same level of infection prevention as surgical asepsis. Basic hygiene practices, while necessary in many nursing procedures, do not meet the stringent requirements for preventing contamination during a procedure that directly involves internal sterile sites. Therefore, using surgical asepsis ensures the highest possible level of patient safety during airway suctioning.