What is the ultimate goal of all infection control procedures and policies?

• A. Infection Prevention
• B. Eradication
• C. Containment
• D. Risk Reduction

Answer: (A)

Preventing infections from occurring is the main goal of infection control. By putting into practice measures like thorough hand hygiene, proper sterilization and disinfection, appropriate use of personal protective equipment, safe injection practices, meticulous environmental cleaning, vaccination, and ongoing surveillance, infections are kept from starting in the first place and transmission is interrupted. When infections are avoided, patients stay safer and care outcomes improve.

Eradication would mean getting rid of all infections everywhere, which isn’t realistic in practice. Containment focuses on stopping the spread after an infection has already begun, which is important but isn’t the everyday aim of infection control. Risk reduction is part of the effort, but the explicit aim of infection control procedures and policies is to prevent infections from happening in the first place.