Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) Practice Exam 2025 - Free CBIC Practice Questions and Study Guide

Hand hygiene is a critical practice for preventing the transmission of infections in healthcare facilities. This practice involves the proper washing of hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer, particularly before and after patient interactions, and after contact with potentially contaminated surfaces. The significance of hand hygiene lies in its ability to remove pathogens that can be transferred between healthcare workers and patients, which is essential for reducing hospital-acquired infections.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) often occur in environments where multiple patients and healthcare personnel interact. By maintaining appropriate hand hygiene practices, the spread of harmful microorganisms is minimized, contributing to safer healthcare settings. While patient isolation, antibiotic prescriptions, and physical therapy have their roles in infection control and patient management, they do not directly address the most common route of infection transmission, which is through contaminated hands. Therefore, hand hygiene is universally recognized as the most effective method for reducing the risk of infection spread within healthcare facilities.