What is the primary goal of infection control in healthcare settings?

The primary goal of infection control in healthcare settings is to prevent the spread of infections. Infection control measures are essential for protecting patients, healthcare workers, and visitors from the transmission of infectious diseases. This includes implementing protocols such as hand hygiene, sterilization of equipment, isolation of infected patients, and vaccination programs.

Effective infection control practices create a safer environment for patient care, minimizing the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), which can complicate treatment, extend hospital stays, and lead to increased morbidity and mortality. By focusing on preventing the spread rather than attempting to eliminate all illnesses, infection control strategies can more realistically manage health outcomes by reducing the incidence of infection and promoting overall patient safety.

The other options may seem relevant, but they do not capture the essential focus of infection control measures. While reducing costs and speeding up recovery can be beneficial outcomes of effective infection control, they are not the primary objective. Similarly, the complete elimination of all illnesses is not feasible within healthcare settings due to the complexity of infectious agents and human health.