Handwashing with soap and water is:A) the most effective way to reduce the number of bacteria on the nurse's hands.B) more effective than alcohol-based products for washing hands.C) necessary for hand hygiene if hands are visibly soiled.D) not necessary if the nurse wears artificial nails.

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Natalie Mavronas · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : C, Explanation :  Soap and water is still necessary for hand hygiene if hands are visibly soiled.Recent research has shown that handwashing with plain soap sometimes results in paradoxical increases in bacterial counts on the skin.Alcohol-based products have been more effective for standard handwashing or hand antisepsis than soap or antiseptic soaps.Studies have shown the efficacy of alcohol-based hand sanitizers in reducing infection in a variety of settings from intensive care to long-term care.Studies have shown that health care workers with chipped nail polish or long or artificial nails have high numbers of bacteria on their fingertips.For this reason,the CDC recommends that health care workers not wear artificial nails and extenders,and that they keep natural nails less than one-quarter of an inch long when caring for high-risk patients.

Handwashing with soap and water is:

A) the most effective way to reduce the number of bacteria on the nurse's hands.
B) more effective than alcohol-based products for washing hands.
C) necessary for hand hygiene if hands are visibly soiled.
D) not necessary if the nurse wears artificial nails.

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