[Proposal for a method of studying the activity of soap or antiseptic against the microbial flora of the hands after a single surgical scrub].

The authors, all members of the Antiseptics group of the Societé Française de Microbiologie, propose a standardised method for the evaluation of the activity of antiseptics on the microbial flora of the hands in the context of surgical scrubbing. This paper defines the aims of the method, its field of application and describes the media and materials required. The various phases of the preliminary study and the definitive trial also described.