Which intervention is crucial for preventing hospital-acquired infections?

Hand hygiene practices are essential for preventing hospital-acquired infections because they significantly reduce the transmission of pathogens. When healthcare workers consistently perform hand hygiene—by washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers—they decrease the risk of transferring harmful microorganisms from one surface, object, or patient to another. This practice is crucial in both routine clinical care and surgical settings, where the likelihood of infection can have serious, sometimes life-threatening consequences.

While antibiotic therapy can be crucial for treating infections, it does not prevent their occurrence in the first place. The use of non-sterile gloves may provide a barrier, but if hands are not properly sanitized before donning gloves, the risk of spreading infection remains. Limiting patient visitors can be part of infection control measures, but it is not as directly impactful in preventing infections as proper hand hygiene. Overall, hand hygiene is a foundational practice in infection control strategies in healthcare settings.