Two-Layer Wound Sealing before Surgical Hand Washing for Surgeons with a Minor Cut Injury on the Hand

There is a lack of evidence-based recommendations for surgical hand washing when there is a minor cut on the hand. We sought to evaluate whether two-layer wound sealing functions as a barrier to prevent the spread of micro-organisms. We randomly categorized 20 surgeons into subjects with either a right- or left-hand injury. Each subject was assumed to have a minor injury on the assigned hand and the other hand was used as a control. Subjects applied a waterproof topical dressing as a first layer, then protected the injured area with a second layer using an antimicrobial drape, and finally performed surgical hand rubbing. Subjects stamped each hand onto an agar plate. The injured hands were checked by an investigator to confirm the wounded area remained properly sealed after hand rubbing. Colonies were counted and the micro-organisms were identified after 48 hours of incubation. There was no leak found from two-layer wound sealing after hand washing. Mean number of the colonies was 0.2 on the injured hand and 0.25 on the uninjured hand (p = 0.772). The micro-organisms cultured from both the injured and uninjured hands were coagulase-negative staphylococci. Using a model for a minor cut injury on the hand this study demonstrated that two-layer wound sealing is an effective barrier not only to prevent the spread of micro-organisms but also to protect surgeons.