What infection control measure is essential during patient intake?

Screening for infections or communicable diseases is a critical infection control measure during patient intake because it allows healthcare providers to identify individuals who may pose a risk of transmitting infections. By implementing this screening process, healthcare professionals can take appropriate precautions to protect both themselves and other patients, preventing potential outbreaks within the facility.

This measure is particularly important in settings where there is close contact between patients and healthcare workers, as early detection of communicable diseases enables timely interventions such as isolation, testing, or treatment, thereby maintaining a safer environment. Recognizing signs and symptoms or risk factors of infections during patient intake is vital for effective infection control and management.

While providing promotional materials about hygiene and asking patients about their medical history are valuable practices, they do not directly prevent the transmission of infections at the point of patient intake. The use of hand sanitizer before patient interaction is also important for hand hygiene, but it is secondary to the crucial step of screening for existing infections that could be encountered in the healthcare setting.