Question

The surgical scrub is intended to remove as many microorganisms as possible from the hands and arms, and to render them ___.

A) Clean
B) Moisturized
C) Sterile
D) Numb

Answer 1

The surgical scrub is intended to render the hands and arms sterile by extensive washing and degerming, which significantly reduces microbial presence on living tissue to prevent transmission into surgical wounds.

Step-by-step explanation:

The surgical scrub is intended to remove as many microorganisms as possible from the hands and arms, and to render them sterile.

During a surgical scrub, health-care workers perform extensive washing, starting from the fingertips, going to the hands and forearms, and then up beyond the elbows. This process reduces the normal microbiota on the skin's surface to prevent the introduction of these microbes into a patient’s surgical wounds. The act of handwashing and surgical scrubbing are examples of degerming, which is the process of significantly reducing microbial numbers on living tissue with the use of mild chemicals like soap.

The correct option suitable for use on tissues for microbial control to prevent infection is B. antiseptic, whereas disinfectants are used for inanimate objects, and sterilants for equipment that must be free of all forms of microbial life.