During an outbreak, what hygiene practice should be emphasized among staff?

Hand hygiene is critical during an outbreak because it is one of the most effective measures to prevent the spread of infections. When staff consistently perform hand hygiene, they significantly reduce the risk of transmitting pathogens to themselves and to the residents they care for.

Effective hand hygiene includes handwashing with soap and water or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after potential contamination points such as contact with residents, handling contaminated materials, or touching surfaces. This practice helps to eliminate contaminants and is pivotal in controlling infections in communal settings like nursing homes, where residents may be particularly vulnerable due to underlying health conditions.

While the use of gloves, wearing masks, and avoiding contact with residents can be important in certain situations, they should not replace or undermine the importance of hand hygiene. Gloves can provide a barrier, but they can also become contaminated; therefore, hand hygiene remains essential both before and after glove use. Masks are useful for preventing droplet transmission but do not replace the need for hand hygiene. Avoiding contact with residents might prevent exposure but does not address the need for infection control in caregiving situations. Hence, the emphasis on hand hygiene during an outbreak reinforces a comprehensive approach to infection prevention.