What is the best bed-making practice to reduce infection risk?

• A. Use clean, dry linens; change linens promptly if soiled; keep linens away from the resident’s face; avoid shaking linens.
• B. Shake linens to fluff them before making the bed.
• C. Reuse damp linens for multiple shifts.
• D. Place linens on the floor for quick change.

Answer: (A)

Keeping infection risk low starts with how linens are handled. Use clean, dry linens to minimize microbes and skin irritation, and change them promptly when they’re soiled to prevent the spread of contaminants. Keep linens away from the resident’s face so they aren’t exposed to any debris or microbes that might be on the fabric. Avoid shaking linens because tossing them in the air can disperse dust and pathogens, potentially spreading them to the resident and surroundings. Reusing damp linens invites bacterial growth and increases infection risk, and placing linens on the floor contaminates them. Following these practices supports a clean, safe bed-making process.