Surgical Hand Antisepsis in the Soviet Union: Stages of Development, Technical Capabilities, and Technologies

The earliest references to surgical hand antisepsis in Russia date back to the 18th century and are associated with the Russian physician Daniil Samoylovich, who, during a plague epidemic in Moscow, suggested treating hands with a vinegar-based solution when performing surgical opening of plague buboes. Subsequently, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the development of surgical hand antisepsis in Russia was influenced by European surgical schools, though it retained its distinct features shaped by the priority of addressing battlefield surgery needs and the use of available chemical agents with antiseptic properties in practice. In the Soviet period, methods of surgical antisepsis were adjusted in line with the recommendations of national surgical schools, including adaptations made during wartime. This period was marked by the centralization of scientific research and its discussion within the professional medical community, followed by implementation into practice. The most important achievement of this period was the standardization and simplification of antiseptic techniques, which ensured their effectiveness in military field settings despite scarcity of time and resources. This article provides a retrospective analysis of literary sources reflecting the evolution of surgical hand antisepsis technologies and practices in the USSR from 1917 to 1991. It highlights the contributions of domestic scientists to the advancement of the theory and practice of surgical antisepsis, as well as their prominent efforts in ensuring biosafety.