What practice is effective in preventing the spread of infections in a pharmacy setting?

Proper hand hygiene is a fundamental practice in preventing the spread of infections in a pharmacy setting for several reasons. First, it effectively reduces the presence of harmful pathogens on the skin, which can easily be transferred to medications, surfaces, and other people. Hand hygiene includes both handwashing with soap and water and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which are essential in killing a broad spectrum of microorganisms.

In a pharmacy environment, where multiple medications and health products are handled, maintaining clean hands is crucial to avoid contaminating these items. Additionally, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians often interact with patients, and practicing good hand hygiene helps protect vulnerable individuals, especially those with weakened immune systems.

While other options, such as wearing gloves and disinfecting surfaces, play important roles in infection control, they are not substitutes for hand hygiene. Gloves can become contaminated, and surfaces can harbor pathogens despite occasional cleaning. Therefore, ensuring that personnel maintain proper hand hygiene consistently is the most effective measure in preventing infection spread.