District Nurses and aseptic technique: where did it all go wrong?

Concerns have been raised about whether it is possible to perform aseptic procedures within a community setting. Hallett (2000) has described how community nurses often have a fatalistic view about whether such procedures can really be performed at home. At the same time there has been an increase in the number of patients being cared for at home who need interventions which must adhere to the principles of asepsis. While it has been acknowledged for some time that community nurses must be resourceful and adapt the procedure, the view that community nurses cannot really perform aseptic procedures is a fairly new phenomenon. This article explores the reasons why concerns about the performance of aseptic procedures in the community may have arisen and what steps can be taken to address these concerns to ensure that care at home is both safe and effective.