What should you do as you enter or leave a patient's room?

Cleansing your hands using an alcohol-based rub as you enter or leave a patient's room is a crucial practice in maintaining infection control and protecting both the patient and healthcare workers. This action helps to significantly reduce the risk of transmitting germs and infectious agents. Hand hygiene is one of the most effective measures in preventing healthcare-associated infections, which can pose serious risks to patients with compromised immune systems or underlying health conditions.

While checking the patient's charts, reviewing lab results, or asking the patient if they need anything are important aspects of patient care, they do not directly address the immediate need for infection prevention when interacting in a patient's environment. Adhering to proper hand hygiene protocol before and after patient contact is a fundamental responsibility within healthcare settings to ensure a safe and hygienic atmosphere for everyone involved.