What technique should be used for suctioning nasal and oral passages in children?

Using a clean technique for suctioning nasal and oral passages in children is important to minimize the risk of introducing pathogens while still effectively clearing secretions. This method involves using clean, non-sterile equipment, which is sufficient because the nasal and oral passages are not sterile areas in the body. The clean technique is designed to reduce the likelihood of infections while acknowledging that the environment and the areas being treated are not sterile.

In pediatric care, especially with procedures like suctioning, the emphasis is on maintaining a balance between infection prevention and practicality, since complete sterility can be challenging to achieve in these areas. Aseptic technique, while more stringent, is not typically necessary for procedures involving the nasal and oral passages, as the risk of introducing infections is lower in non-sterile environments. Surgical technique and contaminated technique would not be appropriate in this context, as they either demand a sterile environment that isn't required or would increase the risk of infection.