Final answer:
The initial step before applying sterile surgical gloves is to thoroughly wash hands with soap and water, which is critical in preventing the spread of pathogens to a patient during surgery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before applying sterile surgical gloves, the most appropriate initial step is to wash hands with soap and water. This is essential to prevent the introduction of microbes into a patient's surgical wounds.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), handwashing is critical for healthcare workers to minimize the transfer of pathogens. They must engage in extensive hand scrubbing prior to surgeries, following a procedure that involves using soap and warm running water, starting from the fingertips, moving on to the hands and forearms, and up beyond the elbows. This comprehensive technique is intended to reduce the normal microbiota on the skin.
The correct sequence of handwashing is to first wet hands with warm water, keeping hands below the forearms. Then, apply liquid soap to cover all hand surfaces and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Particular attention should be paid to the thumbs, wrists, and spaces between fingers, as well as under the fingernails using a nail brush. Only after the hands are thoroughly washed and dried, one should proceed to open the sterile glove package, don protective attire, and inspect the gloves for defects just before wearing them.