What is the difference between CLEAN and STERILE?

[ILoveTenerife]

I am very confused as to what clean means and what sterile means, as they are not the same.

Does sterile mean it is completely free of microorganisms good and bad?

And does clean mean a lot of the microorganisms have gone but some still remain? even bad bacteria?

I hope you can help!

Thanks x

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

But suctioning is supposed to be a sterile procedure, you make your sterile field and everything. NG insertion is not a sterile procedure

If I remember correctly (and I could be wrong), sterile technique is only required when the patient has a trach or ETT. NT suctioning, oral suctioning, et al. need only be clean. I wish I knew where I put my Perry & Potter...