Question

Once a surgical scrub is performed, you must ___.

A) Proceed immediately to gowning and gloving
B) Air dry without touching anything
C) Rinse hands thoroughly with water
D) Use a paper towel to dry hands

Answer 1

After a surgical scrub, the correct step is to immediately proceed to gowning and gloving to maintain a sterile environment for surgery.

Step-by-step explanation:

Once a surgical scrub is performed, the correct action is to proceed immediately to gowning and gloving. During a surgical scrub, healthcare workers must reduce the microbiota on the skin to prevent the introduction of these microbes into a patient's surgical wounds. The process of scrubbing is more extensive than routine handwashing and is followed by gowning and gloving to maintain sterility before performing a surgical procedure. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST), scrubbing usually involves using antimicrobial agents and can be performed with or without brushes, and hands should be dried using a clean towel or hot air blower.