Which measures contribute to infection prevention and control in nursing practice?

• A. Hand hygiene only
• B. Hand hygiene, PPE use, isolation precautions, sterile technique, vaccination, environmental cleaning, and surveillance
• C. Routine vital signs checks only
• D. Medication administration without checks

Answer: (B)

Prevention and control of infections in nursing rely on a layered approach that stops transmission at multiple points of care. Hand hygiene is the foundation because it directly interrupts the spread of germs during patient contact. Using appropriate PPE protects both staff and patients during procedures with exposure to infectious agents. Isolation precautions are used to contain known or suspected infections and prevent them from spreading to others. Sterile technique during invasive procedures prevents introducing pathogens into sterile sites. Vaccination reduces the risk of infection and transmission for vaccine-preventable diseases. Environmental cleaning and disinfection remove pathogens from surfaces and equipment, lowering indirect transmission. Surveillance and monitoring help detect outbreaks, measure compliance, and guide quality improvements.

Together these elements create a comprehensive infection prevention strategy; relying on only one aspect, like routine vital signs checks, misses the essential steps that stop transmission. Similarly, medication administration without checks focuses on safety of drug therapy rather than infection control, and using hand hygiene alone doesn’t address PPE, isolation, environment, or surveillance.