How often should healthcare workers perform hand hygiene?

The practice of performing hand hygiene before and after any patient contact is essential in reducing the risk of infection transmission in healthcare settings. Healthcare workers are constantly interacting with patients and exposing themselves to various pathogens that may be present on their skin or in bodily fluids. By washing their hands or using hand sanitizer before approaching a patient, healthcare workers can prevent the introduction of harmful bacteria and viruses into the patient’s environment. Likewise, performing hand hygiene after patient contact is crucial to remove any potential contaminants that may have been transferred during the interaction. This two-pronged approach is recommended by organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure a high standard of care and to protect both patients and healthcare workers from infections.

In contrast, the other options either suggest a frequency of hand hygiene that is insufficient to maintain infection control or rely on visible dirt as a sole indicator for performing hygiene, which is not comprehensive for preventing healthcare-associated infections. Regular and thorough hand hygiene is a foundational element of infection prevention practices in healthcare environments.