What is one of the first steps in patient hygiene before any procedure?

Washing your hands is one of the most crucial steps in patient hygiene before any medical procedure. Proper hand hygiene significantly reduces the risk of infection and protects both the healthcare provider and the patient. By washing hands thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, pathogens that could be transferred during examination or treatment are eliminated. This practice aligns with the principles of infection control and maintains a clean environment for patient care.

Establishing a sterile field with disposable equipment, documenting patient history, and preparing medical instruments are all important in their own right, but they occur after hand hygiene has been performed. Neglecting to wash hands initially compromises the safety protocols and can jeopardize patient outcomes. Thus, handwashing is fundamentally the first step in any healthcare procedure to ensure that the highest standard of safety is upheld.