Use soap and water instead of an alcohol-based hand rub in which situation?

• A. Always after patient contact
• B. When hands are visibly dirty or after exposure to spore-forming organisms
• C. After using gloves
• D. Never use soap and water

Answer: (B)

Hand hygiene choice depends on how clean the hands are and what organisms might be present. Soap and water is preferred when hands are visibly dirty or after exposure to spore-forming organisms. Spore-forming pathogens, such as Clostridioides difficile, are not reliably killed by alcohol-based hand rubs, and the physical action of washing with soap and rinsing helps remove these spores from the hands. So in those situations, washing hands is more effective at reducing transmission. If hands are clean and not exposed to soil or spores, an alcohol-based hand rub is usually sufficient after patient contact or glove removal.