Which hand hygiene is recommended to prevent the spread of C. difficile?

Which hand hygiene is recommended to prevent the spread of C. difficile?

• A. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer alone
• B. Soap and water wash
• C. No hand hygiene needed
• D. Hand sanitizer with gloves only

Answer: (B)

C. difficile forms spores that are resistant to alcohol. Soap and water wash physically removes these spores from the skin through scrubbing, which reduces the chance of spreading the organism. When hands are visibly soiled or after caring for a patient with C. difficile, wash with soap and water for about 15–20 seconds, then rinse and dry. Gloves do not replace hand hygiene; you should perform hand hygiene before putting on gloves and after removing them. So the recommended approach is soap and water wash.

C. difficile forms spores that are resistant to alcohol. Soap and water wash physically removes these spores from the skin through scrubbing, which reduces the chance of spreading the organism. When hands are visibly soiled or after caring for a patient with C. difficile, wash with soap and water for about 15–20 seconds, then rinse and dry. Gloves do not replace hand hygiene; you should perform hand hygiene before putting on gloves and after removing them. So the recommended approach is soap and water wash.