After removing gloves, when should hand hygiene be performed?

• A. Immediately after removing gloves.
• B. Before removing gloves.
• C. Only after performing all tasks.
• D. At the end of the shift.

Answer: (A)

Hand hygiene should be done immediately after removing gloves because the outside of gloves can be contaminated during removal. If you wait, those germs can transfer to your hands and then to the resident, surfaces, or other people. Cleaning your hands right away reduces this risk. Use soap and water if hands are visibly dirty; otherwise, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is appropriate. Do not perform hand hygiene before removing gloves, and avoid delaying it until the end of tasks, as that increases the chance of spreading germs.