Final answer:
The total surgical scrub (hand washing) time should be approximately 3-4 minutes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The total surgical scrub (hand washing) time should be approximately 3-4 minutes. Surgical scrubbing is more extensive than routine handwashing and involves scrubbing starting from the fingertips, extending to the hands and forearms, and then up beyond the elbows. The goal of surgical scrubbing is to reduce the normal microbiota on the skin's surface to prevent the introduction of microbes into a patient's surgical wounds.
Healthcare workers must wash their hands between every patient contact and after various types of exposure to potential contaminants.