What is the primary goal of infection control practices in the healthcare setting?

The primary goal of infection control practices in the healthcare setting is to prevent healthcare-associated infections. This objective is critical because such infections can lead to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Infection control practices include a variety of strategies, such as hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), environmental cleaning, and sterilization techniques. These measures aim to reduce the risk of pathogens being transmitted between healthcare workers, patients, and the environment, thereby ensuring a safer healthcare experience for everyone involved.

While other options may seem relevant, they do not align with the fundamental purpose of infection control. For instance, increasing the workload for healthcare staff is not a beneficial outcome or goal; rather, effective infection control should make workflows more efficient. Promoting the use of antibiotics, although important in certain contexts, does not directly pertain to infection control practices, which focus primarily on preventing infection rather than solely treating it. Maintaining high levels of patient privacy is also essential in healthcare settings but is not specifically related to preventing infections. Thus, the focus on preventing healthcare-associated infections is central to the practice and philosophy of infection control.