Which practice greatly reduces the risks of infection from blood-borne viruses such as HBV, HCV, and HIV?

The practice that greatly reduces the risks of infection from blood-borne viruses such as HBV, HCV, and HIV is clean needle technique. This technique involves using sterile needles and syringes, along with proper methods for disposing of used needles, thereby significantly minimizing the risk of transmitting viruses through exposure to contaminated blood.

When clean needle techniques are implemented, it prevents the sharing of needles, which is a primary method of transmitting blood-borne pathogens. This practice is particularly critical in contexts such as medical settings, drug use, and tattooing where needles are involved. Ensuring that each needle is new, sterile, and used only once prevents the direct entry of these viruses into the bloodstream.

While hand washing, vaccination, and alcohol swabbing are important practices for reducing the risk of infection in general, they do not specifically target the transmission of blood-borne viruses in the same direct manner as clean needle techniques. Hand washing is effective in preventing many types of infections but does not eliminate risks tied specifically to contaminated needles. Vaccination can protect against HBV, which is crucial, but it does not provide immunity against HCV or HIV and does not prevent transmission through needle sharing. Alcohol swabbing before injections can reduce surface-level bacterial contamination but does not address