Water-Based and Waterless Surgical Scrub Techniques

Khadaroo, Rachel G. M.D., Ph.D.
Pilieci, Stephanie N. M.D.

From the Departments of Surgery (R.G.K.), Critical Care Medicine (R.G.K.), and Emergency Medicine (S.N.P.), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

Dr. Khadaroo can be contacted at [email protected] or at the Department of Surgery, 2D Surgery Walter Mackenzie Centre, 8440-112 St. NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada.

Julie R. Ingelfinger, M.D., Editor

Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article at NEJM.org.

New England Journal of Medicine 389(10):p e19, September 7, 2023. | DOI: 10.1056/NEJMvcm1807798

Water-Based and Waterless Surgical Scrub Techniques

Surgical site infections can result in increases in morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. This video demonstrates the two recognized techniques for surgical hand preparation — water-based and waterless.