Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) Practice Exam 2026 – The All-in-One Guide for Exam Success

The primary goal of surveillance in infection control is to monitor and reduce the rates of infection. Surveillance involves the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data related to infections, which allows healthcare facilities to identify trends, outbreaks, or changes in infection rates. By continuously monitoring these rates, infection control programs can implement targeted interventions to prevent and reduce infections within healthcare settings.

This monitoring is essential not only for understanding the current state of infections but also for evaluating the effectiveness of infection prevention protocols and strategies. The data gathered through surveillance can inform clinical practices, guide resource allocation, and support public health efforts to improve patient safety.

Focus on tracking expenses, employee awareness, or assessing new medications, while important aspects of a comprehensive infection control program, do not directly align with the core objective of surveillance, which is fundamentally about monitoring and ultimately reducing infection rates.