Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) SLC Practice Exam

Which of the following defines infection control?

1. Strategies to increase patient attendance

2. Practices that promote staff communication

3. Methods that prevent the spread of infection in healthcare settings

4. Protocols for ensuring patient consent

The correct answer is: Methods that prevent the spread of infection in healthcare settings

The definition of infection control focuses on implementing specific methods and practices that are designed to prevent the spread of infections, particularly in healthcare settings. This area of focus is critical for protecting both patients and healthcare workers, as infections can significantly impact health outcomes, lead to complications, and increase healthcare costs. Infection control encompasses various strategies, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), standard precautions, hand hygiene practices, and the proper cleaning and sterilization of medical equipment. These methods aim to break the chain of infection transmission, ensuring a safer environment for everyone involved. Other choices relate to different aspects of healthcare but do not specifically pertain to the direct prevention of infections. Strategies to increase patient attendance, promote staff communication, and ensure patient consent, while important for the overall healthcare process, do not address the critical issue of infection transmission specifically. This distinction makes the chosen answer the most appropriate and relevant to the context of infection control in healthcare.