For 150 years members of the surgical team have been washing their hands with solutions designed to remove micro-organisms and therefore reduce surgical site infections in patients. This article discusses the evidence surrounding aspects of surgical hand antisepsis.
Australian College of Operating Room Nurses2004ACORN StandardsO'Halloran Hill, ACORN
2.
Association for Perioperative Practice2007Standards and Recommendations for Safe Perioperative Practice 2007Harrogate, AfPP
3.
Association of periOperative Registered Nurses2006Standards, Recommended Practices and GuidelinesDenver, Association of periOperative Registered Nurses
4.
FurukawaK., TajiriT., SudzukiH., NoroseY.2005Are sterile water and brushes necessary for hand washing before surgery in Japan?Journal of Nippon Medical School72(3) 149–154
GuptaC., CzubatyjA.M., BriskiL.E., MalaniA.K.2007Comparison of two alcohol-based surgical scrub solutions with an iodine-based brush for presurgical antiseptic effectiveness in a community hospitalJournal of Hospital Infection65(1) 65–71
7.
HajipourL., LongstaffC., CleeveV., BrewsterN., BintD., HenmanP.2006Hand washing rituals in trauma theatre: clean or dirty?Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England88(1) 13–15
8.
Herruzo CabreraR., Vizcaino AlcaideM.J., Fdez AcineroM.J.2000Usefulness of an alcoholic solution of NDuopropenide for the surgical antisepsis of the hands compared with hand washing with iodine povidone and chlorhexidineJournal of Surgical Research946–12
9.
KappsteinI., SchulgenG., WaningerJ., DascherF.1993Mikrobiologische und okonomische Untersuchungen uber verkurzte Verfahen fur die chirurgische Handedesinfektion [Microbiological and economic studies of abbreviated procedures for surgical hand disinfection]Der Chirurg64(5) 400–405
10.
LarsonE.1995APIC guideline for handwashing and antisepsis in healthcare settingsAmerican Journal of Infection Control23(4) 251–269
11.
LoebM., WilcoxL., SmaillF., WalterS., DuffZ.1997A randomized trial of surgical scrubbing with a brush compared to antiseptic soap alone AmericanJournal of Infection Control25(1) 11–15
12.
MangramA.J., HoranT.C., PearsonM.L., SilverL.C., JarvisW.R.1999Guideline for prevention of surgical site infectionInfection Control and Hospital Epidemiology20(4) 247–278
13.
ParientiJ.J., ThibonP., HellerR., Le RouxY., TheobaldP., BensadounH., BouvetA., LemarchandF., Le CoutourX.2002Hand-rubbing with an aqueous alcoholic solution versus traditional surgical hand-scrubbing and 30-day surgical site infection ratesJournal of American Medical Association288(6) 722–727
14.
PereiraL.J., LeeG.M., WadeK.J.1990The effect of surgical hand washing routines on the microbial counts of operating room nursesAmerican Journal of Infection Control18(6) 354–364
15.
PereiraL.J., LeeG.M., WadeK.J.1997An evaluation of five protocols for surgical hand washing in relation to skin condition and microbial countsJournal of Hospital Infection36(1) 49–65
16.
PietschH.2001Hand antiseptics: rubs versus scrubs, alcoholic solutions versus alcoholic gelsJournal of Hospital Infection48(Supplement A) S33–S36
17.
SensozO., UysalA.C., BaranC.N.2003Pre-surgical scrubbing in plastic and reconstructive surgery: a prospective studyEuropean Journal of Plastic Surgery25369–373
18.
SpringerR.2002To brush or not to brushPlastic Surgical Nursing22(4) 185–188
19.
TannerJ., BlunsdenC., FakisA.2007National survey of hand antisepsis practicesJournal of Perioperative Practice17(1) 27–37
20.
TannerJ., SwarbrookS., StuartJ.2008Surgical hand antisepsis to reduce surgical site infectionThe Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 1, Chichester, John Wley and Sons Ltd
21.
WheelockS.M., LookinlandS.1997Effect of surgical hand scrub time on subsequent bacterial growthAORN Journal65(6) 1087–1098
