Final answer:
Phlebotomists should wash their hands in addition to changing gloves between every patient to reduce the transmission of pathogens and effectively prevent the spread of infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
In addition to changing gloves between every patient, phlebotomists should wash their hands. It is critically important for healthcare workers, including phlebotomists, to practice diligent hand hygiene due to their frequent contact with patients and potentially infectious materials. Proper handwashing helps to reduce the transmission of pathogens and is considered one of the most effective means of preventing the spread of infections. Even though phlebotomists wear gloves, they must ensure that they wash their hands thoroughly after the removal of gloves, following contact with bodily fluids or potentially infectious materials, and before and after each patient interaction.