What does infection prevention entail?

Infection prevention encompasses various strategies designed to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases. This includes implementing practices such as hand hygiene, using personal protective equipment, ensuring proper sanitation of facilities, and following protocols for handling contaminated materials. By focusing on these methods, healthcare workers can significantly reduce the risk of infections in healthcare settings, safeguarding both patients and healthcare providers.

Promoting patient comfort, ensuring proper nutrition, and encouraging regular physical activity, while beneficial for overall health and well-being, do not directly address the specific measures needed to prevent and control infections. Infection prevention is a distinct approach that prioritizes minimizing the transmission of pathogens, which is essential in clinical environments.