Which action demonstrates proper hand hygiene during care?

Which action demonstrates proper hand hygiene during care?

• A. Perform hand hygiene before and after each resident contact; use sanitizer when appropriate; keep nails short
• B. Wear gloves only
• C. Wash hands only after resident contact
• D. Use sanitizer only when hands are visibly dirty

Answer: (A)

Proper hand hygiene is essential to prevent spreading infections in care settings. It should be done before and after each resident contact to remove microorganisms that can be transmitted between people and surfaces. Alcohol-based sanitizer is appropriate when hands are not visibly dirty, and soap and water should be used if hands are visibly soiled or contaminated. Nails should be kept short and clean because long or artificial nails harbor more bacteria. Gloves are important for certain tasks, but they do not replace the need to clean hands before and after contact. Therefore, performing hand hygiene before and after each resident contact, using sanitizer when appropriate, and keeping nails short is the best practice.

Proper hand hygiene is essential to prevent spreading infections in care settings. It should be done before and after each resident contact to remove microorganisms that can be transmitted between people and surfaces. Alcohol-based sanitizer is appropriate when hands are not visibly dirty, and soap and water should be used if hands are visibly soiled or contaminated. Nails should be kept short and clean because long or artificial nails harbor more bacteria. Gloves are important for certain tasks, but they do not replace the need to clean hands before and after contact. Therefore, performing hand hygiene before and after each resident contact, using sanitizer when appropriate, and keeping nails short is the best practice.