Which statement accurately describes hand hygiene in infection control?

Which statement accurately describes hand hygiene in infection control?

• A. Hand hygiene should be performed before donning PPE and after removing PPE.
• B. Hand hygiene is optional when gloves are worn.
• C. Hand hygiene is required only after patient contact.
• D. Hand hygiene should be performed only when leaving the room.

Answer: (A)

Hand hygiene is essential to prevent the spread of infections. It should be done before you put on PPE to prevent contaminating the protective gear, and again after you remove PPE to eliminate any contaminants that may have been picked up during removal. Even when gloves are worn, cleaning your hands remains important because gloves can fail or become contaminated, and hand hygiene helps protect both you and the patient. It isn’t optional with gloves, it isn’t limited to after patient contact only, and it’s not something you do only when leaving the room.

Hand hygiene is essential to prevent the spread of infections. It should be done before you put on PPE to prevent contaminating the protective gear, and again after you remove PPE to eliminate any contaminants that may have been picked up during removal. Even when gloves are worn, cleaning your hands remains important because gloves can fail or become contaminated, and hand hygiene helps protect both you and the patient. It isn’t optional with gloves, it isn’t limited to after patient contact only, and it’s not something you do only when leaving the room.