What is the best practice for hand hygiene after diapering?

• A. Wipe hands on clothing.
• B. Skip hand hygiene to save time.
• C. Wash hands immediately after diapering; use soap and water; use sanitizer if handwashing is not possible.
• D. Use a sanitizer only before diapering.

Answer: (C)

After diapering, hands can harbor germs from stool or urine, so cleaning them right away is essential to prevent spreading infections. The best practice is to wash hands with soap and running water, scrubbing for about 20 seconds, then drying thoroughly. Soap physically removes microbes from the skin, and rinsing washes them away. If water and soap aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol as a backup, but remember that washing is preferred, especially when hands are visibly dirty.

Wiping hands on clothing isn’t a real cleaning method and won’t effectively remove germs. Skipping hand hygiene altogether increases the risk of spreading pathogens. Using sanitizer only before diapering leaves hands dirty after the diapering process, which can transfer germs to others and to surfaces.