You Are Bedside at a Long-Term Care Facility for an 89-Year-Old

You are bedside at a long-term care facility for an 89-year-old female with an infected area on her back. Staff states that they are fearful that it is a methacillin/oxacillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection so they have requested transport to the emergency department for further evaluation. To decrease your chance of acquiring MRSA, which of the following is critical?

A) Washing your hands following patient contact
B) Placing a mask on the patient
C) Washing the infection with an alcohol sanitizer prior to transport
D) Avoiding unnecessarily touching the patient