The Certification Study Guide (6th edition) describes surveillance in infection prevention as a systematic method for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting health data, and it categorizes surveillance approaches based on scope and focus. The three recognized categories of surveillance are whole house surveillance, targeted surveillance, and a combination of both, making option D the correct answer.

Whole house surveillance involves monitoring infections across the entire healthcare facility. This approach provides a broad overview of infection trends but may lack depth in high-risk areas. Targeted surveillance, on the other hand, focuses on specific populations, locations, procedures, or devices—such as CLABSI in ICUs or SSIs following orthopedic surgery—where risk is highest or where prevention efforts are prioritized. A combination approach integrates both methods, allowing facilities to maintain broad situational awareness while dedicating resources to high-impact areas.

The study guide emphasizes that infection prevention programs should select surveillance categories based on risk assessment, available resources, regulatory requirements, and organizational priorities. CIC exam questions often test understanding of surveillance structure rather than timing (prospective vs. retrospective) or purpose (baseline vs. benchmark), which are surveillance methods or uses, not categories.

Recognizing whole house, targeted, and combination surveillance as the core categories reflects foundational infection prevention principles and supports effective program design, evaluation, and regulatory compliance.