Which term best describes practices and procedures that prevent the spread of infection?

Which term best describes practices and procedures that prevent the spread of infection?

• A. Infection control
• B. Cleaning
• C. Sterilization
• D. Discard

Answer: (A)

Infection control is the set of practices that prevent the spread of infection. It covers hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment, cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, disinfection and sterilization of tools, and safe waste handling. This broad approach is why it’s the best term—it encompasses everyday hygiene plus the systematic procedures used to reduce or eliminate risks. Cleaning removes dirt and some microbes but doesn’t guarantee all pathogens are gone; disinfection lowers most surface germs but may not eliminate all spores; sterilization makes instruments free of all microorganisms; discard is focused on waste disposal rather than the overall preventive program. So, the term that best describes practices and procedures that prevent the spread of infection is infection control.

Infection control is the set of practices that prevent the spread of infection. It covers hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment, cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, disinfection and sterilization of tools, and safe waste handling. This broad approach is why it’s the best term—it encompasses everyday hygiene plus the systematic procedures used to reduce or eliminate risks. Cleaning removes dirt and some microbes but doesn’t guarantee all pathogens are gone; disinfection lowers most surface germs but may not eliminate all spores; sterilization makes instruments free of all microorganisms; discard is focused on waste disposal rather than the overall preventive program. So, the term that best describes practices and procedures that prevent the spread of infection is infection control.