Ellen, a CMA (AAMA), has physician's orders to instill eyedrops in a 13-year-old's right eye. Ellen
employs sterile techniques as she prepares to instill the eyedrops. Just as she is about to place the
drops in the patient's eye, the patient sneezes, and it happens so quickly that she is unable to cover
her nose and mouth. The sterile gloves and medication bottle containing the eyedrops have been
contaminated. How should Ellen proceed?
Do not use the contaminated meds. Discard the meds and the gloves. document the contamination, have physician re order the eye drops . utilize sterile technique again and proceed to administer the eye drops.
