What is the recommended action if a hand hygiene product dispenser is empty?

Refilling a hand hygiene product dispenser as necessary is essential to maintaining effective infection control practices. Regular and easy access to hand hygiene products like soap or hand sanitizer is crucial in preventing the spread of infections in healthcare settings. If the dispenser is empty, it becomes ineffective, increasing the risk of cross-contamination and healthcare-associated infections.

Promptly refilling the dispenser ensures that healthcare workers and patients can practice proper hand hygiene at all times. This action aligns with best practices in infection control, which emphasize the importance of readily available hand hygiene supplies to support safe and hygienic patient care environments.

The other approaches would diminish the effectiveness of infection control protocols. Delaying the refill until the next scheduled maintenance would leave staff and patients without necessary hygiene options for an extended period, and using a different product could risk inappropriate or less effective cleaning solutions. Informing staff to be more cautious is insufficient in the face of an empty dispenser, as the absence of product compromises the intended health and safety measures.