Which practice is recommended according to standard precautions before interacting with a patient?

Washing hands before interacting with a patient is a fundamental practice recommended by standard precautions. Hand hygiene is crucial in preventing the transmission of infections in a healthcare setting. By thoroughly cleaning hands, medical assistants can significantly reduce the risk of contaminating the patient and the healthcare environment, thereby enhancing overall safety.

While using alcohol swabs on the patient's skin is important for disinfecting specific areas before procedures, it does not replace the necessity for hand hygiene before any patient interaction. Wearing gloves at all times can create a false sense of security and might lead to non-compliance with hand hygiene practices if not managed properly. Notifying the physician of any allergies is certainly a vital practice in patient care but is not directly related to the recommended precautions that apply universally before any patient interaction. Thus, the importance of washing hands first stands out as the foundational step in maintaining a hygienic practice.