Which practice is least appropriate for cuff hygiene between patients?

• A. Clean or cover cuffs between patients
• B. Inspect cuffs for wear
• C. Disinfect between uses per protocol
• D. Reuse a cuff for multiple patients without cleaning

Answer: (D)

Cuff hygiene between patients is about preventing cross-contamination during blood pressure measurement. Cuffs can carry skin microbes or other pathogens, so they must be cleaned and/or covered between patients and disinfected per protocol to minimize infection risk. Inspecting cuffs for wear is important because cracks or degraded material can harbor microbes and affect accuracy. Disinfecting between uses according to the protocol further reduces microbial load. Reusing a cuff for multiple patients without cleaning is not appropriate because it allows pathogens to be transferred from one patient to another.