Preparation of the Surgical Team

Mike Conzemius DVM, PhD

Diplomate ACVS
Iowa State University
Surgical Apparel

„ Scrub shirt and pants

– 50/50 cotton/polyester blend
– only for surgery
„ Lab coat
– protects scrub suit
Preparation before surgery

„ Review and rest

„ Clean clipped nails
„ No jewelry (rings, earrings, watches)
Surgical Head Covers

„ Surgery shoes
– best for asepsis and your shoes
„ Hoods or Caps
– disposable or laundered daily
„ Must cover facial and head hair
„ skin on face desquamates microbes
Shoe Covers

„ disposable
„ effectively exclude bacteria from street shoes
Face Masks
„ covers mouth and nose
„ not terribly effective in reducing bacterial
counts in room
„ effective in preventing gross contamination
from saliva from talking, sneezing, coughing
Surgeon’s skin

„ mechanical removal of gross dirt/oils

„ reduction of transient microorganisms
„ prolong depressant effect on resident
microflora of hands and arms
„ 3-5 minutes, do not irritate skin
„ chlorhexidine gluconate has best
residual activity
Surgical Gown

„ resistance to blood and aqueous fluid

„ resistance to stretch, pressure, and
friction
„ resistance to lint production
„ disposable vs. reusable
– reusable have lower cost and medical
waste but increased strike through
and infection rate
Surgical Gloves

„ protects patient and surgeon

„ sterile, disposable
„ latex vs. hypoallergenic
„ pick size that is comfortable for hours