Between patient contacts, which decontamination method is appropriate when hands are not visibly soiled?

• A. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer between patients.
• B. Wash hands with soap and water between patients regardless of visibility.
• C. Do not perform hand hygiene if gloves are used.
• D. Rely on gloves to protect; no hand hygiene needed between patients.

Answer: (A)

Hand hygiene between patient contacts when hands are not visibly soiled is best done with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. It quickly reduces a wide range of microbes, is easy to use between walks to the next patient, and dries fast, helping you maintain workflow while keeping hands clean. If hands are visibly dirty or contaminated with fluids, wash with soap and water instead, since sanitizer is less effective in those situations. Gloves do not replace hand hygiene between patients—contamination can occur during glove removal or via gaps in the gloves—so hands should be sanitized or washed between patients and after removing gloves.