Final answer:
The scrub person provides the surgeon with the necessary prep solution and sticks during skin preparation. A time out is observed for the surgical team to confirm critical details and ensure necessary precautions, like administering prophylactic antibiotics. Surgical scrubbing protocols vary but aim to reduce skin microbes to prevent infection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual who provides the surgeon with the prep solution and prep sticks during the process of skin and incision preparation for surgery is known as the scrub person. This process is critical for maintaining sterility and reducing the risk of infection by minimizing the normal skin flora on the surgical site. Before skin incision, a time out is commonly observed where all members of the surgical team -- which includes nurses, surgeons, anesthesia professionals, and others involved in patient care -- verify critical information. This includes confirmation of patient identity, surgical site, and procedure; review of critical and unexpected steps by the surgeon; potential patient-specific concerns by the anesthesia staff; and issues related to sterility and equipment by the nursing staff. It is essential that prophylactic antibiotics are administered within 60 minutes prior to incision unless not indicated, and all necessary imaging results are displayed in the operating room.
While there is no universally accepted protocol for surgical scrubbing and the time required may vary depending on the antimicrobial product used, the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) provides guidelines on the matter. Surgical scrubs can be performed with or without brushes, and it is advised that health-care workers refer to the manufacturer's guidelines for their chosen antimicrobial scrub. The goal of the surgical scrub is to significantly reduce the microbes on the skin to prevent the introduction of potential pathogens into the patient's surgical wounds.