Which characteristic distinguishes surgical asepsis from medical asepsis?

The distinguishing characteristic of surgical asepsis compared to medical asepsis lies in the goal of completely eliminating all microorganisms from an area or object. Surgical asepsis, also known as sterile technique, is employed in procedures where the risk of infection is high, such as during surgeries or invasive procedures. This technique involves the use of sterile instruments and environments, ensuring that no microorganisms are present that could lead to infection.

In contrast, medical asepsis focuses on reducing the number and spread of microorganisms to prevent infection but does not necessarily eliminate them completely. This is often practiced in general patient care settings where the risk of infection is lower.

The other options do not accurately capture the primary distinction. While gloves and surgical masks are common in surgical settings, they are not exclusive to surgical asepsis, as they can also be used in medical asepsis. Similarly, the prevention of microorganism spread is a goal of both concepts, but the key difference remains the complete elimination of microorganisms in surgical asepsis.