What is the best way to prevent infections when treating wounds?

Using gloves and sterile dressings is the best way to prevent infections when treating wounds because it minimizes the risk of contamination. Gloves create a barrier between the healthcare provider’s hands and any potential pathogens that could enter the wound. Additionally, sterile dressings are designed to be free of microorganisms, which is crucial for protecting the wound from infection.

When treating wounds, ensuring cleanliness and sterility is fundamental, as wounds can easily become infected if bacteria enter the broken skin. Gloves, particularly, are essential in providing a safeguard, especially when hands may not be clean or when dealing with bodily fluids. Sterile dressings help absorb exudate and keep the wound clean while promoting healing.

By contrast, using clean cloth and antiseptic spray, while somewhat effective, does not ensure complete sterility and may still allow for infection. Using bare hands is highly discouraged as this exposes the wound to pathogens present on the skin. Washing hands and using petroleum jelly may provide some benefits, but petroleum jelly does not serve as an appropriate dressing for wounds and may not protect against infection. Therefore, the combination of gloves and sterile dressings represents the best practice for infection prevention in wound care.