Maintaining a sterile field requires which of the following practices?

Maintaining a sterile field is crucial in preventing infection and ensuring successful surgical and medical procedures. The requirement that only sterile items come into contact with sterile items is fundamental to preserving the sterility of the field. This practice ensures that any non-sterile items do not contaminate the sterile surfaces or instruments, which could lead to infection.

In a sterile environment, it is essential to maintain the integrity of sterile items, as their exposure to non-sterile objects, surfaces, or even personnel can introduce pathogens. The very concept of a sterile field relies on this principle, which is why it is the primary focus when setting up and maintaining such an environment.

Other practices, while important for overall hygiene and infection control, do not specifically address the integrity of the sterile field in the same way. For instance, wearing gloves is a critical practice but does not replace the necessity of ensuring that only sterile items intersect within that field. Similarly, the use of disinfectants and handwashing play key roles in infection control but are not directly related to maintaining a sterile field once it has been established. Thus, having exclusively sterile items in contact is the cornerstone of maintaining that crucial area of infection prevention.