Surveillance programmes for healthcare-associated infection should be conducted at:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: HAI surveillance programs are typically conducted at facility, provincial, or national levels to monitor trends and inform policy, rather than solely at the community (A), pathogen (C), or patient (D) level, though data from these levels may feed into broader surveillance.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: HAI rates are generally higher in low-income countries due to limited resources, weaker infrastructure, and less robust IPC programs compared to high-income countries, where surveillance and prevention are more advanced.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: An epidemic refers to disease levels exceeding normal expectations and being more prolonged or widespread than localized outbreaks, distinct from endemic levels (A), pandemics (C), or the study of epidemiology (D).

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The first step in outbreak investigation is to agree on a case definition to consistently identify cases, which guides subsequent steps like sample collection (B), meetings (C), and data organization (A).

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: After containment, preparing and distributing a report with findings and recommendations ensures lessons are documented and shared, more critical than celebration (A), basic notification (B), or sample disposal (D).