Which practice supports infection control during wound care?

• A. Use sterile technique and hand hygiene
• B. Share tools between patients
• C. Reuse disposable dressings
• D. Delay dressing changes until signs of infection

Answer: (A)

Preventing infection during wound care hinges on keeping the wound environment free from contaminants. Using sterile technique means creating and maintaining a sterile field, handling sterile supplies only with sterile gloves or instruments, and avoiding contact with non-sterile surfaces. Hand hygiene is essential: washing hands thoroughly before touching the wound, before putting on gloves, between tasks, and after removing gloves prevents transferring microorganisms to the wound or to other patients.

Together, sterile technique and proper hand hygiene minimize the risk of introducing bacteria into the wound, supporting healing and reducing infection.

Other practices compromise infection control: sharing tools between patients can spread pathogens; reusing disposable dressings is not sterile and can introduce or harbor bacteria; delaying dressing changes allows bacteria to multiply and increases infection risk.