A nurse is preparing to perform a wound dressing change on a patient with an open surgical incision. Which step is most critical to prevent infection during the procedure?
Apply sterile gloves prior to touching the wound.
Ensure the sterile field is properly set up.
Confirm the patient does not show signs of fever.
Perform hand hygiene before starting the procedure.
The most critical step to prevent infection is performing proper hand hygiene before starting the procedure. Hands are a primary vector for transmitting pathogens, and effective handwashing or sanitizing removes potentially harmful microorganisms. While other steps, such as wearing gloves or preparing the sterile field, are also important, they are ineffective if the nurse's hands are contaminated. For example, wearing gloves over unwashed hands could still transfer pathogens to the sterile environment.
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