Manual for Male Circumcision under Local Anaesthesia

Male circumcision under local anaesthesia
Version 3.1 (Dec09)
should scrub their hands and arms to the elbows. Scrubbing
cannot completely sterilize the skin, but will decrease the
bacterial load and risk of wound contamination from the hands.
Each scrub should take 5 minutes, and the process should be
done at the start of the operating session and, if more than one
circumcision is planned, between each operation.
The scrub can be done with a medicated soap and water, or
with an alcohol-based preparation.
Surgical scrub with a medicated soap (Fig. 4.2)
• Start timing.
• Using a medicated soap, scrub each side of each finger,
between fingers, and the back and front of each hand.
• Wash each side of the arms from wrists to elbows.
• Keep your hands higher than your arms at all times during
the procedure.
• Rinse hands and arms by passing them through the water
in one direction only, from fingertips to elbow. Do not move
your arms back and forth.
• After scrubbing, hold up your arms to allow the water to
drip off your elbows.
• Turn off the tap with your elbow.
Fig. 4.2 Scrubbing hands with medicated soap and water 4
4
Fig. 4.2 and 4.3 are reproduced from: WHO. Surgical care at the district hospital. World Health
Organization, 2003.
Facilities and supplies and preparation for surgery Chapter 4-8