In preparation for surgery, how should skin be washed and painted?

In preparation for surgery, how should skin be washed and painted?

• A. From the periphery toward the incision in a straight line
• B. From the incision site to the periphery in a circular motion
• C. Scrub pattern around the incision
• D. Only the incision site is washed

Answer: (B)

Preoperative skin prep aims to minimize microbes around the planned incision. The best approach is to apply antiseptic starting at the incision site and move outward toward the surrounding skin in a circular, outward-spiral pattern. This wipes away bacteria as you go and carries any debris away from the wound, reducing the chance of contaminating the incision edges. Washing only the incision site leaves nearby skin unclean, increasing infection risk, while starting at the outer skin and moving toward the incision could drag contaminants toward the wound. Scrubbing the area around the incision may help some but won’t ensure the proper outward coverage from the center. So, washing and painting from the incision site outward in a circular motion best supports infection prevention.

Preoperative skin prep aims to minimize microbes around the planned incision. The best approach is to apply antiseptic starting at the incision site and move outward toward the surrounding skin in a circular, outward-spiral pattern. This wipes away bacteria as you go and carries any debris away from the wound, reducing the chance of contaminating the incision edges. Washing only the incision site leaves nearby skin unclean, increasing infection risk, while starting at the outer skin and moving toward the incision could drag contaminants toward the wound. Scrubbing the area around the incision may help some but won’t ensure the proper outward coverage from the center. So, washing and painting from the incision site outward in a circular motion best supports infection prevention.