What's the protocol if I accidentally contaminate a sterile field?

If contamination occurs, dispose of the contaminated materials and recreate the sterile field using new sterile materials.

Start over.

You should notify the surgeon and/or circulator, break down the field & reopen/set up with sterile supplies & instrumentation.

It is not a good thing to contaminate a sterile field. If you contaminate a sterile instrument kit before it’s put on the table-you will have to get a new kit. If you are in the sterile field and you touched it-the hand that touched the kit is contaminated and you can usually just have the circulator take off your contaminated glove. If the contaminated kit or you (after touching the kit) touched the table-the whole table needs to be broken down. The entire table is considered contaminated. The surgeon and the rest of team will not be happy!! There are times a circulator will give you a tegaderm or something similar to cover that area. Not a good practice. Hope that helps you.