Reassessment of the surgical scrub

This study was designed to reassess the efficacy and necessity of the preoperative ten minute, two brush scrub method currently required for all personnel at this hospital. Three scrub methods-the tem minute, two brush technique with an iodophor, Betadine surgical scrub; a five minute, no brush iodophor scrub with a new iodophor iodine scrub, and a three minute, no brush scrub with plain soap and Septisol Foam-were compared. Fingertip culture results obtained prescrub, immediately postscrub and one hour after wearing gloves revealed no significant differences in the three methods. The findings suggest that, one hour after scrubbing, a shorter, no brush scrub procedure with any of the antiseptics used in this study is as effective in reducing bacterial growth of the hands as the standard longer two brush method. By deletion of the use of scrub brushes and the improved efficiency from the reduced scrub time alone with the additional less likelihood of skin trauma and dermatitis, substantial financial savings may be realized.