Which statement is true about standard hand hygiene before feeding a resident?

Which statement is true about standard hand hygiene before feeding a resident?

• A. Wet hands, apply soap, scrub all surfaces for about 20 seconds, rinse thoroughly, dry with a clean towel, and use the towel to turn off the faucet
• B. Rub hands quickly with sanitizer only
• C. Hand hygiene is optional before feeding
• D. Wash hands only at fingertips for 5 seconds

Answer: (A)

Before feeding a resident, hands must be thoroughly cleaned to remove germs that could be transferred to food or the resident. The most effective approach is to wash with soap and water for about 20 seconds. Start by wetting your hands, applying soap, and scrubbing all surfaces—palms, backs of hands, between the fingers, around the nails—for roughly 20 seconds. Rinse well, then dry completely with a clean disposable towel. Use that towel to turn off the faucet, so you don’t recontaminate clean hands. This routine specifically reduces the risk of spreading pathogens during feeding. Rubbing hands with sanitizer alone isn’t sufficient when hands may be dirty or when handling food, and doing only a quick wash or washing just fingertips for a short time isn’t adequate to remove germs. Hand hygiene isn’t optional before feeding.

Before feeding a resident, hands must be thoroughly cleaned to remove germs that could be transferred to food or the resident. The most effective approach is to wash with soap and water for about 20 seconds. Start by wetting your hands, applying soap, and scrubbing all surfaces—palms, backs of hands, between the fingers, around the nails—for roughly 20 seconds. Rinse well, then dry completely with a clean disposable towel. Use that towel to turn off the faucet, so you don’t recontaminate clean hands. This routine specifically reduces the risk of spreading pathogens during feeding.

Rubbing hands with sanitizer alone isn’t sufficient when hands may be dirty or when handling food, and doing only a quick wash or washing just fingertips for a short time isn’t adequate to remove germs. Hand hygiene isn’t optional before feeding.