What is the top priority when managing an outbreak of infection in a healthcare facility?

When managing an outbreak of infection in a healthcare facility, the top priority is isolating affected individuals and implementing control measures. This approach is crucial as it directly targets the spread of the infection within the facility. By isolating those who are infected, the healthcare team can minimize contact and reduce the risk of transmission to other patients, staff, and visitors.

Implementing control measures goes hand-in-hand with isolation. These measures might include enhancing hand hygiene practices, increasing the frequency of cleaning and disinfection in affected areas, screening other patients and staff for signs of the infection, and possibly employing protective barriers to prevent further spread. This proactive approach is fundamental in managing an outbreak effectively, ensuring the safety and health of everyone in the healthcare setting.

The other options, while important aspects of overall infection control, do not address the immediate need to contain the outbreak effectively. Discharging affected patients could pose further risks of spreading the infection to the community, increased staff training, although beneficial for long-term prevention, does not provide an immediate barrier to the outbreak, and while informing the media is essential for transparency and public awareness, it does not contribute to controlling the outbreak itself.