What are hand hygiene requirements in health facilities under Class 314?

• A. Regular handwashing with soap and water or approved sanitizers, with accessible facilities.
• B. Hand hygiene is optional when gloves are worn.
• C. Hand hygiene should be performed only during patient interactions.
• D. Hand hygiene should be performed only during outbreaks.

Answer: (A)

Hand hygiene is a fundamental infection prevention practice in health facilities. The best answer reflects the standard requirement: regular handwashing with soap and water or an approved hand sanitizer, with facilities that are readily accessible so staff can cleanse hands whenever needed. This ensures hand hygiene can occur consistently and is practical in everyday care, which helps prevent the transmission of pathogens.

Gloves are important for protecting both patients and staff, but they do not replace the need for proper hand hygiene. Hand hygiene should occur before putting on gloves and after removing them because gloves can be punctured, contaminated during removal, or have contamination on their exterior surfaces.

Hand hygiene is not limited to patient interactions or only during outbreaks. It should be performed at multiple critical times—before touching a patient, after touching a patient or their environment, after removing gloves, and whenever hands are visibly dirty or potentially contaminated. Limiting it to specific occasions fails to prevent transmission in routine care.