sterile vs. clean dressings?

[cherilee]

When is a dressing supposed to be clean as opposed to sterile? I know that central line dressings are sterile, but are all wound dressings sterile? I would think they would be, but I have heard people say certain ones dont need to be. Can anyone clear this up for me??

Thanks

[carolina4]

all our dressings are done using "clean" technique other than central lines/PICC & anything neuro. open belly or not, they aren't sterile. everytime the surgeon comes in the unit to take the original OR dressing off it's not done sterile. neither are any of our burns...or wound vacs...nothing is done sterile except central lines.