What is the most important task to prevent the spread of infection?

• A. Wear gloves
• B. Wash hands
• C. Use masks
• D. Sterilize rooms

Answer: (B)

Hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection. Our hands touch so many surfaces and people, and germs can transfer from those surfaces to others or to ourselves. Washing with soap and water (or using an alcohol-based sanitizer when hands aren’t visibly dirty) removes or kills those germs, dramatically reducing transmission. Other measures matter, but they don’t replace clean hands: gloves can become contaminated or fail, masks protect mainly against respiratory droplets and require correct use, and sterilizing rooms targets environmental cleanliness but doesn’t stop the hand-to-hand or hand-to-face spread as directly as thorough hand hygiene.