What is a primary component of process measures in infection surveillance?

A primary component of process measures in infection surveillance focuses on specific practices that are essential for preventing infections in healthcare settings. Safe injection practices are a fundamental aspect of this because they directly relate to how medications are administered and how infection risk can be minimized. This includes protocols such as using sterile techniques, proper disposal of needles, and avoiding contamination during the preparation and administration of injections.

By adhering to safe injection practices, healthcare providers can significantly reduce the chance of transmitting infections, which is a critical goal of infection prevention programs. Consequently, monitoring adherence to these practices helps assess the effectiveness of infection control interventions and improve patient safety.

In contrast, other options like the time taken for hand hygiene or tracking antibiotic costs represent important concepts in infection control but do not specifically serve as a primary component of process measures in infection surveillance. Patient satisfaction surveys, while valuable for evaluating patient care quality, do not directly assess infection prevention practices.