To prevent transmission of infections in a healthcare setting, what is the most effective practice a nurse should follow?

Performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact is widely recognized as the most effective practice for preventing the transmission of infections in healthcare settings. The importance of hand hygiene stems from its ability to eliminate pathogens that can be transferred from one patient to another or from healthcare personnel to patients.

When nurses and other healthcare providers perform hand hygiene, they significantly reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), which are often caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi present on the hands. This practice is supported by numerous guidelines and recommendations from organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

While wearing examination gloves, cleaning shared equipment, and maintaining distance from coughing patients are also important infection control practices, none of these can replace the fundamental necessity of proper hand hygiene. Gloves can sometimes provide a false sense of security and may not always prevent cross-contamination if hand hygiene is neglected. Similarly, cleaning equipment is vital, but it cannot solely rely on that action without hand hygiene being consistently practiced. Maintaining distance is helpful in some cases, but it does not address direct contact or the transfer of pathogens through various means. Therefore, the cornerstone of effective infection control remains hand hygiene.