• clinical procedures
• intensive care
• jaundice
• neonatology
• nursing

It is a standard practice within neonatal medicine to use sterile drapes for invasive procedures. Neonates have a high susceptibility to infection, and a clean environment is mandatory.1 Typically, green or opaque sterile drapes are used during such procedures.

Patients are often unstable when handled during procedures. Though there is ongoing monitoring of patient parameters, due to the opaque nature of drapes, the patient is obscured from view and vital clinical information is not available. This may lead to a delay in recognition of clinical deterioration. In addition, opaque drapes limit effectiveness of time-critical therapies such as phototherapy.

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Figure 1

Use of a clear sterile drape during insertion of peripheral long line in premature infant.

A solution which allows an effective sterile field while having full view of the patient is a sterile transparent plastic drape (figure 1). Though not widely used in the neonatal setting, it has been used during caesarean sections.2 Clear plastic drapes were introduced in our neonatal intensive care unit following a clinical incident with a delay in appreciating a patient’s deterioration. We found that the drapes allow for continued visibility of landmarks, changes in perfusion and phototherapy to continue. Clear sterile drapes are a safe alternative and could prevent harm to neonates.