What is Aseptic Non Touch Technique ANTT?

Aseptic No Touch Technique may be used in conjunction with sterile gloves as an alternative to full surgical asepsis for body piercing procedures.

I demonstrated variations on this with colleagues during the Versatility in Piercing Techniques series of workshops for the 2014 APP conference.

The following is from ANTT.org:

Aseptic No Touch Technique logo ....used internationally to protect people from health care associated infection
Aseptic No Touch Technique
….used internationally to protect people from health care associated infection

What is Aseptic Non Touch Technique ANTT?

ANTT is defined by the National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (2012) as being a ‘Specific type of aseptic technique with a unique theory and practice framework’.

ANTT is a contemporary and explicitly defined practice framework for aseptic technique providing a common practice language for this critical clinical competency. As a result, practitioners, health care organisations and industry using ANTT® worldwide, benefit from more meaningful conversations about aseptic practice, education, research and ultimately, patient safety. 

https://www.antt.org/what-is-antt.html

Why use ANTT?

The literature and clinical practice of aseptic technique is historically confused. A conflicting and interchangeable paradigm, of sterile, aseptic, clean, non touch technique and many other terms is ambiguous, and has confused practice to the detriment of patient safety. 

ANTT addresses the historical weaknesses that inhibit practice, and provides health care workers with a logical practice framework that promotes safe and efficient aseptic technique for this critical clinical competency.  

Healthcare associated infections (HAI) result in significant mortality and morbidity internationally. It is estimated that 30-70% of HAI’s are preventable (ECDC 2013 & CDC 2016). When performing aseptic technique, healthcare workers aim to protect patients from infection. However, poor aseptic technique actually presents risk to the patient. 

Of course, health care professionals do not set out to harm patients during clinical procedures, quite the contrary. But the risk that health care professionals pose is significant, and effective education and training are essential. We work with committed health care professionals internationally to help improve the education and clinical practice of aseptic technique with ANTT. 

ANTT… 

  • Improves patient safety by supporting effective education, competency assessment and safe clinical practice
  • Standardizes aseptic technique across organizations and countries, and reduces variability in practice
  • Provides a foundation for the effective clinical governance of aseptic technique
  • Helps protect and reassure patients by providing more consistent standardized aseptic technique

Resources

The Association for Safe Aseptic Practice works to improve standards of aseptic technique in clinical practice.
The Association for Safe Aseptic Practice works to improve standards of aseptic technique in clinical practice.

2 thoughts on “What is Aseptic Non Touch Technique ANTT?”

  1. Please contact me regarding the use of ASAP/ANTT IP. Whilst I’m sure well intentioned this incorrect representation of ANTT and links to outdated resources unconnected with ANTT (the Nottingham video is NOT ANTT) may confuse people searching for acurate ANTT resources. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Hello Simon,
      Thank you for spotting the inaccuracy. I’ve updated this post to clarify and correct the content.
      Please me know what you believe should be included and could be improved.

      Kind regards,
      Brian Skellie

      Reply

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