Question

State the purpose of performing the surgical scrub, list the steps of the surgical scrub utilizing the counted brush stroke method and waterless method, and explain the related sterile concepts.

Answer 1

Purpose of the surgical scrub:

• To remove the dirt and microorganisms from the hand.
• To minimize the residential growth of skin flora.
• To inhibit the regrowth of organisms on hands.
• To prevent cross-infection.

Before handwashing:

• Any jewelry in the hands and forearms should be removed.
• Nails should be trimmed properly and remove of polish.
• The hands and forearms should be free of lesions and cuts.

Counted brush stroke method:

It is a method where the number of brush strokes are designed in a way to clean the surfaces of hands and forearms. It takes around five minutes.

Step 1: Open one sterile scrub brush.

Step 2: Wet the hands and forearms ( 2 inches above the elbow) under running water to remove the contamination. Clean the nail to remove the dirt.

Step 3: On the left hand, start scrubbing at the outside of the little finger and progress towards the outside of thumb by using ten strokes on each surface area.

Step 4: Scrub the nails by closing the hand.

Step 5: then by using a circular motion, scrub the palm.

Step 6: Scrub the forearm(about one-third of the hand) with 20 strokes and back of the hand with 20 strokes.

Step 7: Then by using left hand, scrub the little finger to the thumb finger with 20 strokes on each surface area.

Step 8: Scrub the right hand nails by closing hand.

Step 9: Scrub the palm in circular motion.

Step 10: Then scrub the forearm with 20 strokes up to 2 inches above the elbow and back of the hand with 20 strokes.

Step 11: Discard the brush and wash the hands and forearm under running water without touching the sink.

Step 12: Holds the hands above the chest level.

Waterless Method:

Step 1: Put around 5mL of alcoholic based hand rub on your left hand.

Step 2: Dip the fingers of the right hand to remove dirt on the nails for about 10 seconds.

Step 3: Then apply the remaining hand rub on the left hand to the right hand of the palms and forearms in a circular motion for about 10 - 15 seconds.

Step 4: Then repeat the same thing on the left hand by putting Alcohol-based hand rub on the right hand.

Step 5: Take 5mL of ABHR in the left palm and cover the both the surface of the palm in a rotating movement upto the wrist.

Step 6: Rub the back of the hand up to the wrist by using right palm back and forth.

Step 7: Rub the back of the right hand using the same technique.

Step 8: By interlinking, the fingers, rub both palms.

Step 9: Then rub the back of the fingers by holding it with another hand in a back and forth movement.

Step 10: By clasping the left thumb with the right hand, rub in a rotation movement. Then repeat the same thing on the right thumb.( steps 5 to 10 should take around 20 - 30 seconds).

Step 11: Wait until hands become dry.