What is a common goal of care in infection control?

• A. Eliminating all microorganisms
• B. Preventing further exposure to infectious organisms
• C. Isolating all patients
• D. Providing antibiotic prophylaxis

Answer: (B)

Preventing the spread of infection by stopping exposure to infectious organisms is the practical, everyday aim in infection control. In real settings we can’t eliminate every microbe—many are harmless or essential to normal bodily functions—so the focus is on interrupting transmission and protecting people. This means practices like strict hand hygiene before and after patient contact, using appropriate personal protective equipment, maintaining sterile technique during procedures, thorough cleaning and disinfection of surfaces, proper waste handling, and isolating patients when needed. These steps collectively reduce how far infectious agents can move from one person to another and from environment to person.

Other options aren’t the general goal because they’re not feasible or safe as universal goals: trying to eliminate all microorganisms isn’t possible and would disrupt normal flora; isolating every patient isn’t practical and could hinder care; and antibiotic prophylaxis is used selectively, not as a blanket infection-control strategy, since overuse can lead to resistance and other problems.

So, the best answer centers on preventing further exposure to infectious organisms.