DISINFECTANTS AND DISINFECTION 339 



3. Procedures for Disinfection 



A. Surgical Disinfection. a. The operating room must be clean and 

 free from pathogenic and other objectionable organisms. The room 

 must therefore be disinfected from time to time, after the method of 

 procedure for any room which may be assumed to be infected, as will be 

 explained under room and house disinfection. As to when, how often or 

 how completely the operating room is to be disinfected that must be left 

 to the judgment of the surgeon in charge. 



b. Surgeons should be especially careful regarding personal cleanliness, 

 irrespective of the routine personal disinfection and sterilization performed 

 preparatory to an operation. They should always be smooth-shaven as 

 the beard is a carrier of germs. 



c. On preparing for an operation the surgeon removes coat, cuffs and 

 collar in an ante-room; rolls up shirt sleeves and proceeds to wash and 

 scrub hands with tincture of green soap, then in 1-1.5 P er cent, tinct. 

 cres. comp. U. S. P. or lysol, rinse in sterile water, dry with a clean sterile 

 towel and dip in 50 to 60 per cent, alcohol. Formalin and carbolic acid 

 should not be used as hand disinfectants (by the surgeon) because of the 

 benumbing effects of these chemicals, causing a lessening in the delicacy 

 of touch. A i per cent. -solution of potassium permanganate is recom- 

 mended as a disinfectant for hands. In many hospitals nothing more 

 than a thorough scrubbing with green soap is employed for the hands of 

 surgeons, with wholly satisfactory results. 



Before entering the operating room the surgeon and attendants don 

 sterilized gowns with hoods covering head, hair, and face (beard) , leaving 

 only the mouth, nose and eyes free. The hands of the attendants are 

 covered with sterilized rubber gloves. 



d. The surgical instruments are washed and wiped dry; boiled for 

 ten minutes, in water with i per cent, soda, and laid in a tray containing 

 5 per cent, carbolic acid solution. Before using, they are rinsed in boiled 

 distilled water. Never sterilize metallic instruments in corrosive subli- 

 mate, or in any corrosive disinfectants of any kind. Only a short expo- 

 sure would suffice to dull the keen edge of knives, scalpels, and other 

 cutting instruments. Do not sterilize steel instruments in hot air as high 

 temperatures reduce the temper, and do not sterilize them placed with 

 rubber goods. 



B. Sick Room Disinfection. Disinfection in the sick room of a patient 

 afflicted with some communicable disease, may be divided into disin- 

 fection of dejecta, urine and sputum; disinfection of the patient; dis- 

 infection of clothing and bedding; disinfection of the sick room itself; 

 and precautionary disinfection of the attending physicians, nurses and 

 attendants. In case of fatal termination of the malady there is included 



