Which action would be least aligned with standard infection control practices in a pediatric setting?

• A. Hand hygiene before contact
• B. Using PPE appropriately
• C. Isolation precautions when indicated
• D. Reusing disposable gloves between patients

Answer: (D)

Infection control focuses on preventing the transfer of organisms between patients and staff. Gloves are a barrier, but they’re designed for single use and must be changed between patients. Reusing disposable gloves between patients breaks that barrier, increasing the risk of cross-contamination and spreading pathogens from one child to another. After removing gloves, hand hygiene should be performed before moving to the next patient, and new gloves should be used for the next encounter or task.

The other actions are aligned with standard practices: performing hand hygiene before contact reduces the microbial load on hands; using PPE appropriately protects both staff and patients; and applying isolation precautions when indicated helps contain contagious infections.