What is the primary goal of surgical hand antisepsis?

The primary goal of surgical hand antisepsis is to reduce the risk of postoperative infection. This is achieved through the meticulous cleaning and disinfection of the hands and forearms of the surgical team prior to any surgical procedure. By effectively eliminating transient and resident microorganisms from the skin, surgical hand antisepsis helps to minimize potential contamination of the surgical site, which is crucial for patient safety and favorable outcomes.

While ensuring quicker surgeries, improving the surgeon's comfort, and maintaining sterile technique are important considerations in the operating room, they are secondary to the primary focus of preventing infections. The correct practice of surgical hand antisepsis directly correlates with patient care quality, highlighting its critical role in the overall success of surgical interventions.