Final answer:
The statement suggesting the essential role of hand hygiene in preventing infection transmission within healthcare settings is true. Effective hand hygiene is crucial for controlling the spread of pathogens and safeguarding both patients and healthcare workers, and it should be performed in conjunction with the use of clean equipment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement regarding hand hygiene and its significance in preventing infection transmission is true. Hand hygiene practices, including hand washing, are essential for breaking the chain of infection and controlling infection transmission, especially in healthcare settings. Effective hand hygiene not only reduces the spread of pathogens among patients but also protects the healthcare workers themselves.
The use of clean equipment is indeed important to prevent infection, but it must be accompanied by proper hand hygiene to be effective. Using clean equipment without washing hands can still lead to the spread of infection because the hands are a common vector for microorganisms. As such, healthcare professionals, including nurses, should perform hand hygiene both before and after providing patient care, irrespective of the use of clean equipment and patient isolation to minimize the risk of infection to both themselves and other patients.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend thorough hand washing before, during, and after patient contact, and particularly after the removal of gloves or contact with bodily fluids. Proper hand washing technique involves using soap and warm running water and following specific steps to ensure all surfaces are cleaned. This is the most effective way to avoid pathogens and prevent healthcare-associated infections.