When teaching a client about preventing peritonitis during peritoneal dialysis, which instruction is correct?

The correct instruction focuses on the critical importance of hand hygiene in preventing peritonitis during peritoneal dialysis. Washing hands before the exchange is essential because it significantly reduces the risk of introducing pathogens into the peritoneal cavity. Proper handwashing eliminates any bacteria present on the hands, which is crucial when handling sterile equipment and performing the dialysis exchange.

While wearing a mask during the procedure and cleaning the catheter exit site daily are good practices for infection prevention, they do not address the foundational need for hand hygiene, which is the first line of defense against infection. Maintenance of aseptic technique is certainly important as well, but it cannot be effective without prior handwashing, which is why this choice takes precedence in the context of infection prevention.