What is infection prevention?

Infection prevention is best defined as a set of methods used to prevent the spread of disease. This encompasses a variety of strategies and practices designed to minimize the likelihood of infections occurring or spreading in healthcare settings and the community at large. These methods include hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), sterilization of medical instruments, vaccination, and adhering to proper protocols for cleaning and disinfection.

Understanding this concept is critical for healthcare providers, including nursing assistants, as it directly impacts patient safety and health outcomes. Infection prevention strategies help protect patients, healthcare workers, and visitors from the transmission of infectious agents, particularly in environments where individuals may be vulnerable, such as hospitals or long-term care facilities.

The other options do not accurately capture the comprehensive nature of infection prevention. One option speaks to the process of how infections occur rather than how they can be prevented. Another focuses narrowly on infections within the body rather than the broader public health approach. The remaining option limits the definition to a single object rather than addressing the systematic methods employed to reduce disease transmission.