What is the purpose of surveillance in infection control?

The primary purpose of surveillance in infection control is to identify trends and patterns in infection rates. This involves systematically collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data related to infections within a healthcare setting. By monitoring infection rates, healthcare professionals can pinpoint outbreaks, assess the effectiveness of infection prevention practices, and implement strategies to reduce the incidence of healthcare-associated infections.

Understanding these trends allows healthcare facilities to make informed decisions, allocate resources more effectively, and ultimately improve patient outcomes by reducing the transmission of infections. Surveillance also plays a crucial role in ongoing quality improvement initiatives and supports compliance with regulatory standards and guidelines for infection control.