During an aseptic wound dressing change, what should the technician do after removing the soiled dressing?

After removing the soiled dressing during an aseptic wound dressing change, the technician should don new gloves. This is an essential step in maintaining aseptic technique and preventing contamination of the wound and the surrounding area. By putting on a fresh pair of gloves, the technician minimizes the risk of transferring any pathogens from their hands or the environment to the newly exposed wound.

While washing hands thoroughly after removing the soiled dressing is a standard practice, in this context, the immediate action is to ensure that sterile gloves are worn before any other manipulation occurs. This sequence helps maintain the cleanliness and sterility of the procedure, which is crucial for proper wound healing and the prevention of infections.

Subsequent steps, such as discarding the soiled dressing appropriately and preparing the new dressing, can indeed follow. However, the priority is to ensure that the technician is wearing gloves to protect both themselves and the patient from any potential infections during the dressing change.