University of Central Florida (UCF) HSC3432 Occupational Safety for the Health Care Professional Practice Exam 2

Hand hygiene is the most crucial action before inserting urinary or peripheral vascular catheters. Proper hand hygiene significantly reduces the risk of infections, such as catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and bloodstream infections related to vascular catheters. Healthcare professionals are trained to follow strict hand hygiene protocols, which include washing their hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after procedures. This practice is essential in maintaining not only patient safety but also the safety of healthcare providers.

While wearing protective eyewear, asking about allergies, and checking equipment for sterility are also important components of a safe procedure, they do not replace the fundamental importance of hand hygiene. Protective eyewear helps to shield the eyes from potential splashes or body fluids but is secondary to the prevention of infection through handwashing. Similarly, inquiring about allergies can help prevent adverse reactions to materials or medications but does not directly address infection control. Checking equipment for sterility is critical for ensuring that the items used are free of microbial contamination, yet without proper hand hygiene, sterile equipment can still be compromised. Thus, adherence to hand hygiene protocols forms the cornerstone of infection prevention in the setting of catheter insertion.