Which practice is most effective at preventing infection?

• A. Wearing gloves at all times
• B. Isolation
• C. Hand hygiene
• D. Vaccination

Answer: (C)

Hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent infection because hands are the primary route by which microorganisms are transferred between people, objects, and surfaces in healthcare settings. Cleaning hands before touching a patient, after patient contact, and after touching potentially contaminated surfaces interrupts the transmission cycle at multiple points and reduces the spread of a wide range of pathogens.

Gloves and isolation help, but they don’t replace hand hygiene. Gloves can have tiny tears, and microbes can contaminate hands during removal or between glove changes. Vaccination protects against specific diseases, but it doesn’t prevent other infections you might encounter. So, maintaining clean hands consistently—using an alcohol-based hand rub when hands aren’t visibly dirty and washing with soap and water when they are—provides broad protection and remains the cornerstone of infection prevention.