What is a primary infection-control practice in wound care?

• A. Hand hygiene and using sterile technique as appropriate
• B. Applying ointment routinely after wound care
• C. Reusing gloves across patients without changing
• D. Ignoring infection-control protocols

Answer: (A)

Infection control in wound care hinges on preventing the transmission of pathogens through proper hand hygiene and sterile technique when appropriate. Washing or sanitizing hands before and after handling a wound removes and reduces the microbes you can carry, and using sterile technique during wound cleaning, dressing changes, and when handling sterile supplies helps maintain a clean environment and a true sterile field. This combination directly lowers the risk of introducing infection to the wound or to other patients and staff, making it the primary practice.

Other actions don’t provide the same level of protection. Applying ointment after wound care is a treatment step that’s important for healing, but it does not by itself prevent cross-contamination or infection transmission. Reusing gloves across patients without changing them creates a clear safety breach and can move organisms from one patient to another. And ignoring infection-control protocols removes the safeguards designed to keep everyone safe, which is why adherence to these practices is essential in wound care.