Mrs.Eglington,a 54-year-old woman,is to have an indwelling urinary catheter inserted.What is the correct technique for cleansing the female genitalia immediately prior to catheterization?

A) Separating the labia and cleansing from back to front
B) Separating the labia and cleansing from front to back
C) Cleanse around the urinary meatus in a circular motion
D) Cleansing the labia from back to front using alcohol

The correct technique for cleansing the female genitalia prior to catheterization is to separate the labia and cleanse from front to back. This helps to prevent introducing bacteria from the rectal area into the urethra, which can lead to a urinary tract infection. Therefore, option B is the best choice. Option A is incorrect because cleansing from back to front could introduce bacteria into the urethra. Option C is incorrect because cleansing in a circular motion does not provide adequate cleansing of the area. Option D is incorrect because alcohol can cause irritation or dryness of the skin.