A nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of infection control measures in a long-term care facility. Which indicator should be prioritized to assess the success of these measures?

Rationale: A. Resident satisfaction is an important measure of overall quality of care but does not directly reflect the effectiveness of infection control measures. Satisfaction scores may improve even if infection rates remain high. B. Pressure injuries are related to skin care, mobility, and nutrition, not directly to infection control practices. While preventing infections may indirectly reduce complications, pressure injury rates are not a primary indicator of infection control effectiveness. C. While appropriate antibiotic use is important for combating resistance, reduced antibiotic use alone does not directly measure infection control success. Antibiotic use may fluctuate due to prescribing practices rather than actual infection rates. D. The primary goal of infection control measures—such as hand hygiene, isolation protocols, proper catheter care, and environmental cleaning—is to prevent HAIs. Monitoring HAI rates provides a direct, measurable indicator of whether infection control interventions are effective and whether the facility is protecting residents from preventable infections.