In obtaining a wound drainage specimen, which step occurs immediately after removing the old dressing?

• A. Apply sterile gloves
• B. Irrigate wound with NaCl solution
• C. Assess wound appearance (color, odor)
• D. Crush ampule of medium in tube

Answer: (A)

Aseptic technique is the key idea here. After removing the old dressing, the next step is to don sterile gloves. This creates a sterile field so that any manipulation of the wound or collection of the drainage specimen doesn’t introduce contaminants from the hands. With sterile gloves in place, you can move on to assess the wound, prepare the area as needed, and obtain the specimen using sterile technique. The emphasis is on maintaining sterility from the moment you access the wound, which is why putting on sterile gloves immediately after removing the dressing is the best next step.