Which indicators are considered outcome indicators for infection control performance?

• A. Hand hygiene compliance
• B. Environmental cleaning frequencies
• C. Hospital medication error rates
• D. CLABSI rates

Answer: (D)

Infection control performance is measured by looking at result-focused indicators that show the actual impact on patient outcomes. The clearest outcome indicator is the rate of central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI). This measure directly reflects whether infection prevention efforts around catheter insertion, maintenance, and removal are reducing infections, encompassing the combined effect of multiple practices such as aseptic technique, line care, and overall care environment.

Hand hygiene compliance, environmental cleaning frequencies, and hospital medication error rates are all valuable metrics, but they track processes or safety areas rather than the final infection outcomes. Hand hygiene shows whether practices are followed; environmental cleaning frequencies show how often tasks occur; medication error rates relate to medication safety. While important, they do not by themselves quantify the infection outcomes that infection control programs aim to prevent.