Hand Hygiene: The Non-Negotiable

By VeriScorePrep Team · 3 min

Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of patient safety. Use alcohol-based rubs for routine decontamination — before and after patient contact, before aseptic tasks, after contact with body fluids, and after removing gloves. Rubs are fast, effective, and gentle on skin.

Use soap and water when hands are visibly soiled, after using the restroom, and after caring for a patient with confirmed or suspected C. difficile or norovirus. Alcohol does not kill spores.

Gloves are not a substitute for hand hygiene. Wear them for anticipated contact with blood or body fluids, change them between tasks on the same patient, and always perform hand hygiene immediately after removing them.