Which infection control practice is directly related to wound care in athletic training?

• A. Wound care with proper isolation
• B. Sharing towels between patients
• C. Reusing disposable gloves
• D. Skipping hand hygiene

Answer: (A)

Infection control around wounds centers on preventing contamination from the wound to others and to the clinician’s tools and environment. Wound care performed with proper isolation uses barriers, appropriate PPE, and careful handling of contaminated materials to keep the wound separate from clean areas. This directly lowers the risk of spreading infection during treatment, which is essential in athletic training where multiple athletes may share spaces and equipment.

Sharing towels between patients, reusing disposable gloves, and skipping hand hygiene all undermine that protection. Sharing towels can transfer microbes between people and surfaces. Reusing disposable gloves breaks the protective barrier, increasing the chance of transferring pathogens. Skipping hand hygiene misses the most fundamental step in preventing infection to and from the clinician’s hands.