A high-risk patient focus maximizes benefits while minimizing resource use in infection surveillance.
Step-by-Step Justification:
* Efficiency of High-Risk Surveillance:
* Targeting ICU, immunocompromised patients, or surgical units helps detect infections where the risk is highest, leading to earlier interventions.
* Resource Allocation:
* Full hospital-wide surveillance is resource-intensive; focusing on high-risk groups is more efficient.
* Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
* B. Antibiotic monitoring:
* Important for stewardship, but not the primary focus of infection surveillance.
* C. Prevalence surveys:
* Snapshot data only; does not provide ongoing monitoring.
* D. Nursing care plan review:
* Less direct in identifying infection trends.
CBIC Infection Control References:
* APIC Text, "Surveillance Strategies for Infection Prevention".