What is a primary focus of infection prevention in healthcare facilities?

The primary focus of infection prevention in healthcare facilities is to control pathogens through cleaning and disinfection. This process is critical in minimizing the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and ensuring the safety of patients, staff, and visitors. By effectively cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, instruments, and equipment, healthcare facilities can significantly reduce the presence of harmful microorganisms that may lead to infections.

Infection prevention strategies include not just routine cleaning but also implementing protocols that target specific pathogens, maintaining cleanliness in high-risk areas, and ensuring proper use of disinfectants. This approach is essential for protecting vulnerable populations, including immunocompromised patients, from potential outbreaks that could arise from contaminated environments.

While aspects like increasing patient intakes, offering varied cleaning services, and reducing staff workload might seem relevant to facility efficiency and patient care, they do not directly address the core need for controlling pathogens, which is the critical component of preventing infections in healthcare settings. Hence, the emphasis on cleaning and disinfection stands out as the fundamental focus for infection prevention.