CNA Certification (Written Exam)Infection Control and SafetyHard
A resident with active Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection needs assistance after using the bathroom. Which hand hygiene method should the nurse aide use after providing care?
- AHand sanitizer followed by putting on lotion
- BNo hand hygiene needed if gloves were worn
- CSoap and water, because alcohol sanitizer does not kill C. diff spores
- DAlcohol-based hand sanitizer only, since it kills most germs
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Soap and water, because alcohol sanitizer does not kill C. diff spores
C. diff produces spores that are resistant to alcohol-based sanitizers, so soap and water with friction and rinsing must be used to physically remove the spores from the hands. This is an important exception to the usual preference for alcohol-based hand rubs.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Sanitizer alone is ineffective against spores, and lotion does not address hygiene.
- B. Hand hygiene is always required after glove removal, regardless of PPE use.
- D. Alcohol-based sanitizers do not effectively kill or remove C. diff spores.
Hand Hygiene Exception: C. diff
For residents with C. difficile, soap and water must be used instead of alcohol-based hand sanitizer because alcohol does not kill spore-forming organisms.
- C. diff forms spores resistant to alcohol
- Soap and water physically remove spores via friction
- This is a key exception to standard alcohol-rub hand hygiene
Memory trick: Spores need soap, not just a sanitizer swipe