What is a fundamental infection prevention practice to implement at the start of every shift?

• A. Administrative tasks and paperwork first.
• B. Hand hygiene and proper use of PPE, along with adherence to isolation precautions.
• C. Only PPE after patient contact if no exposure risk.
• D. Skip hand hygiene to save time.

Answer: (B)

Starting the shift with hand hygiene and proper use of PPE, along with adherence to isolation precautions, is the fundamental infection prevention practice. Hand hygiene is the primary defense against spreading pathogens, and performing it before touching any patient or their environment breaks the main route of transmission at the moment you begin care. Donning the appropriate PPE before anticipated exposure protects both you and the patient from potential contact, droplet, or airborne transmission, and checking isolation status ensures you apply the correct precautions for each patient from the outset. This approach establishes a protective barrier at the very first interaction and sets a safe routine for all tasks during the shift. Skipping hand hygiene, delaying PPE until after contact, or focusing on administrative tasks without this protective step fails to prevent the spread of infection and increases risk across the unit.