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When scrubbing for surgery, the scrub should be ____.

  1. Chlorhexadine, 3x, don't rinse

  2. Cheese, once, rinse thoroughly

  3. Lemon juice, 5x, pat dry

  4. Water, 2x, scrub vigorously

The correct answer is: Chlorhexadine, 3x, don't rinse

The chosen answer, which involves using chlorhexidine for surgical scrubbing, reflects proper surgical hygiene protocols. Chlorhexidine is an antiseptic that is effective at reducing microbes on the skin, making it a suitable choice for scrubbing before surgery. The instruction to scrub three times provides adequate cleaning to ensure that the skin is properly disinfected. Not rinsing after scrubbing is also important because the prolonged contact of chlorhexidine with the skin enhances its antimicrobial effectiveness. The alternatives indicate incorrect or inappropriate practices for surgical scrubbing. For example, using cheese or lemon juice lacks any disinfectant properties necessary for surgical preparation, and rinsing them off would negate any intended sterilization effect. The idea of using only water, regardless of how many times it is applied or the method of scrubbing, fails to provide the necessary antiseptic action required prior to surgery. Therefore, the correct protocol is represented by the answer involving chlorhexidine.