Surgical Scrub

What’s The Purpose of a

Surgical Scrub?
 Remove debris and transient
microorganisms from the nails, hands,
and forearms
 Reduce the resident microbial count to a

minimum
 Inhibit rapid rebound growth

of microorganisms.
 Who Does a Surgical Scrub?
 Anyone working in the OR at
the beginning of their shift
 Scrub nurses in preparation
for each case
 Nurses working in newborn
nurseries
 Prior to a sterile procedure
 Supplies
 Warm running water
 Mask
 Hair cover
 Sponge imbedded with
Iodine 2% or
Chlorhexidine solution
1.5%
Steps to a Surgical Scrub
 Surgical scrub will be 5 minutes in
length.
 Remove all jewelry (rings, watches)
 Place your cap and mask on (should
cover mouth and nose)
 Make sure fingernails are short and
without polish
 Steps to a Surgical Scrub
 Wash hands and arms with antimicrobial soap.
 Do not use excessively hot
water
 Water should be warm
 Clean under nails with a nail pick
 Start timing. Scrub each side of
each finger, between the fingers, and the
back and front of the hand for two minutes.
Steps to a Surgical Scrub
 Proceed to scrub the arms,
keeping the hand higher than
the arm at all times. This
prevents bacteria-laden soap
and water from
contaminating the hand.
 Wash each side of the arm to
three inches above the elbow
for one minute.
Steps to a Surgical Scrub
 Repeat the process on the other hand and
arm, keeping hands above elbows at all
times. If the hand touches anything except
the sponge at any time, the scrub must be
lengthened by one minute for the area that
has been contaminated.
 Rinse hands and arms by passing them
through the water in one direction only, from
fingertips to elbow. Do not move the arm
back and forth through the water.
 Steps to a Surgical Scrub
.
 If the hands and arms are grossly soiled, the scrub
time should be prolonged. However, vigorous
scrubbing that causes the skin to become abraded
should be avoided.
 At all times during the scrub procedure care should
be taken not to wet water on to
surgical clothing.
 Once in the operating room suite,
hands and arms should be dried
using a sterile towel and aseptic
technique. You are now ready to
don your gown and sterile gloves
 Thank u