What action is crucial before and after patient contact?

Using alcohol-based hand sanitizers is crucial before and after patient contact because they effectively reduce the number of germs on hands, thereby preventing the transmission of infections. Hand hygiene is a fundamental practice in infection control, as it helps eliminate pathogens that can be spread through direct contact with patients or contaminated surfaces. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers, specifically, are convenient and efficient for maintaining hand hygiene in healthcare settings, and they can rapidly kill a wide range of microorganisms.

While wearing gloves can provide a barrier against infection, it is essential that healthcare providers still practice hand hygiene before putting on gloves and after removing them. Changing gowns frequently is important for certain situations but is not a primary action focused directly on hand hygiene. Air purifiers may help in improving air quality, but they do not address the need for hand hygiene in relation to direct patient contact. Thus, hand sanitization is a critical and direct measure to ensure safety in healthcare environments.