Which motion describes how the skin should be washed around an incision?

Which motion describes how the skin should be washed around an incision?

• A. From the incision site to the periphery in a circular motion
• B. From the periphery toward the incision in a straight line
• C. Circular motions away from the incision
• D. Only the incision site is washed

Answer: (A)

The main idea is to clean skin around the incision by moving from the wound outward to the surrounding area, using circular motions that radiate away from the incision. This follows the clean-to-dirty principle: you begin at the most critical, cleanest point (the incision) and work outward, so any debris or contaminants are carried away from the wound rather than toward it. Reaching the periphery last reduces the risk of dragging microbes into the incision and helps maintain a sterile field. Washing only the incision leaves surrounding skin contaminated; moving from the periphery toward the incision risks delivering dirt toward the wound, and circular motions that don’t start at the incision don’t guarantee the clean-to-dirty progression.

The main idea is to clean skin around the incision by moving from the wound outward to the surrounding area, using circular motions that radiate away from the incision. This follows the clean-to-dirty principle: you begin at the most critical, cleanest point (the incision) and work outward, so any debris or contaminants are carried away from the wound rather than toward it. Reaching the periphery last reduces the risk of dragging microbes into the incision and helps maintain a sterile field. Washing only the incision leaves surrounding skin contaminated; moving from the periphery toward the incision risks delivering dirt toward the wound, and circular motions that don’t start at the incision don’t guarantee the clean-to-dirty progression.