A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a group of assistive personnel (AP) about infection control measures on the unit. The nurse should remind the APs that which of the following is the most effective way to prevent the spread of pathogens during client care?

A. Performing hand hygiene frequently and consistently is the most effective method to prevent the spread of pathogens and reduce healthcare-associated infections. B. Proper disposal of contaminated equipment is important, but hand hygiene has a greater impact on infection prevention. C. Changing soiled linens helps maintain cleanliness but is secondary to hand hygiene in preventing pathogen transmission. D. Discarding used syringes safely prevents needle-stick injuries but does not directly prevent the spread of pathogens between clients.