When determining the type of data to collect as part of the IPC surveillance program, what should an IP look for?

• A. Subjective data
• B. Objective, reliable, reproducible data
• C. Anecdotal reports
• D. Data on the most recent patient only

Answer: (B)

In IPC surveillance, you want data that are objective, reliable, and reproducible. Objective data come from observable, verifiable facts (for example, lab-confirmed infections and clearly defined events), which reduces personal bias. Reliable data are collected consistently over time and across different staff or units, which is achieved by using standardized surveillance definitions and trained data collectors. Reproducible data mean that another team could follow the same methods and obtain similar results, enabling valid comparisons and benchmarking.

Subjective data rely on personal judgments and perceptions, which can vary between people. Anecdotal reports are unverified and not scalable for monitoring trends, and data focused only on the most recent patient lack representativeness and are not suitable for measuring rates or patterns over time.