All of the following are ways to prevent the spread of germs except:

• A. Washing hands regularly with soap and water
• B. Covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
• C. Using alcohol-based hand sanitizers
• D. Sharing personal items such as towels and toothbrushes

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of the question, which is about identifying behaviors that prevent the spread of germs versus those that do not.
2. Step 2: Review each option and analyze whether it helps reduce germ transmission. For example, washing hands regularly with soap and water removes germs physically.
3. Step 3: Recognize that covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing prevents droplets containing germs from spreading to others.
4. Step 4: Understand that using alcohol-based hand sanitizers kills many types of germs on the hands, thus preventing their spread.
5. Step 5: Identify that sharing personal items such as towels and toothbrushes can transfer germs directly between individuals, which does not prevent but rather facilitates the spread of germs.