A medical assistant is performing medical asepsis. Which of the following tasks should the assistant complete before and after working with each patient?

While donning gloves is an important aspect of infection control, it should be done after hand hygiene is performed. Gloves provide a barrier to protect the healthcare worker and the patient but do not replace the need for proper handwashing. If gloves are not put on after cleaning hands, the potential for contamination remains, undermining aseptic practices.

Hand sanitization is a component of hand hygiene, but it is not a standalone practice. It refers specifically to using hand sanitizer, which may not be as effective as washing with soap and water in certain situations, such as when hands are visibly soiled. Hand hygiene encompasses both washing and sanitization, making it the correct choice for this question.

Doffing gloves is a necessary procedure to prevent cross-contamination after patient contact, but it is not a task that needs to be performed before working with each patient. The focus should be on hand hygiene before and after glove use, as gloves can still harbor pathogens if not handled correctly.