What is the procedure aimed at reducing the risk of infection transmission in healthcare settings?

Infection control encompasses a comprehensive set of practices and procedures designed to prevent and minimize the transmission of infections in healthcare settings. This involves employing various strategies such as hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), effective sterilization techniques, and proper waste disposal to create a safe environment for both patients and healthcare providers.

While sterilization is a critical component of infection control, focusing specifically on the elimination of all microorganisms on medical instruments, it represents only one aspect of the broader infection control strategy. Sanitation typically refers to maintaining cleanliness to support overall health and hygiene rather than the specific measures taken to prevent infection. Quarantine, on the other hand, involves isolating individuals who may have been exposed to an infectious agent but is not a routine practice in the ongoing prevention of infection within healthcare settings. Therefore, infection control represents the overarching procedure that integrates all suitable measures to mitigate the risk of infection transmission effectively.