Which statement best supports the prevention of hospital-acquired infection?

• A. Hand hygiene alone is sufficient.
• B. Using only PPE without cleaning.
• C. Hand hygiene, proper PPE, and environmental cleaning.
• D. Isolating every patient with any infection.

Answer: (C)

Preventing hospital-acquired infections requires a comprehensive approach that combines hand hygiene, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and thorough environmental cleaning. Hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the spread of pathogens that can be carried on hands during patient care. PPE acts as a barrier to protect both healthcare workers and patients when contact with infectious material is possible, and it must be used correctly to prevent self-contamination. Environmental cleaning removes infectious agents from surfaces and equipment, reducing the chance that touching a contaminated surface will transfer organisms to patients or staff. Together, these measures interrupt multiple links in the transmission pathway—from the source to the susceptible host—making this combined strategy the most effective.

Relying on hand hygiene alone is essential but incomplete, since pathogens can linger on surfaces or be disseminated via droplets or contaminated equipment. PPE without cleaning misses environmental reservoirs, and isolating every patient with an infection is not practical or sufficient to address all transmission routes.