Surgical scrubbing is a process used to reduce bacteria on the hands and forearms prior to surgery. It involves using a scrub brush and antiseptic soap to remove dirt and decrease the number of microbes. The objectives are to remove soil, reduce resident microbial counts, and prevent rapid regrowth of bacteria. Proper scrubbing includes removing jewelry and trimming nails short. Two common scrub methods are the timed anatomical scrub and counted strokes method, lasting 5 minutes. The pre-scrub involves washing with soap and water followed by cleaning under nails prior to in-depth scrubbing and rinsing from fingertips to elbows. An ideal antiseptic agent is broad spectrum, persistent, non-irritating, and safe

1. Surgical Scrubbing
Dr. Ekta Verma
Dr. Bhoomika Singh

2. Introduction
Surgical scrub is a process of removing or
decreasing bacterial count and resident skin
flora from hands and the forearms to a safe level
of surgical acceptance by mechanical scrub with
the help of scrub brush and a chemical
antiseptic soap.

3. Objectives
• To remove soil and transient microbes from the
hands and forearms.
• To reduce the resident microbial count to as low
a level as possible.
• To inhibit rapid rebound growth of microbes.

4. Preparations
• All jewellery should be removed from the
hands and forearms.
• Fingernails should be free of polish and
trimmed short.
• Hands and forearms should be free of open
lesions and breaks in skin integrity.
• Open your gown and gloves before you
scrub,so as not to contaminate your hands.

5. Scrub Procedures
Two scrub procedures are commonly used:
1. Timed anatomic scrub All surfaces of
the hand and arm are scrubbed for a
specified length of time.
2. Counted strokes method Each part of
the hand and arm receives a specific number
of scrub strokes.
Duration of scrub- 5 minutes

6. Pre-scrub Wash
• Run the tap and test temperature of water.
• Open the package containing nail brush, scrub
sponge and nail pick.
• Wet your hands and arms for an initial pre
scrub wash.
• Use several drops of scrub solution and work
up a heavy lather, then wash the hands and
arms to the elbows.

7. • Rinse the hands and arms thoroughly,
allowing the water to run from hands to
elbows.
• Clean under the nails with a nail pick.
• Moisten the nail brush with antimicrobial
solution onto sponge side.
• Lather the fingertips with sponge- side of
brush, washing all four sides of the fingers.

9. • Wet the hands and forearms.
• Apply antimicrobial solution.
• Keep hands above elbows at all times.

11. • Rinse and repeat these steps keeping hands
raised above elbows at all times.
• The second wash should only cover two-
thirds of the forearms to avoid compromising
cleanliness of hands.
• Third time, repeat the steps to wrists only.
• Rinse the hands under running water, allowing
the water to run from fingertips to elbows.

12. Characteristics of a Surgical Scrub
1. Anti-microbial action : An ideal agent must
have a broad spectrum of anti-microbial
activity.
2. Persistent activity : An agent offering
persistent activity keeps the bacterial count
low under the gloves.
3. Safety : The ideal agent must be non-
irritating and non-sensitizing. It must not be
damaging to the skin and environment.

13. THANK YOU