Nosocomial Infections & Infection Control
Nosocomial infection refers to an infection acquired by a patient while in a health care
facility. Nosocomial infections caused by organisms that have acquired antimicrobial
resistance is a major problem. Of greatest concern are drug resistant bacteria such as
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin (glycopeptide) intermediate
Staphylococcus aureus (VISA), and vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE).
Infection control in health care settings is important to reduce transmission of
nosocomial infections between patients and health care workers. The single most
important measure to reduce infections is proper handwashing (or the use of disinfectant
alcohol solutions) for health care workers. Patient-centered strategies for effective
infection control include isolation precautions to the spread of infectious agents and
use of protective barriers (gloves, gowns, masks). Healthcare worker-centered strategies
include handwashing, regular infection control education, use of protective barriers,
work restrictions for exposed or infected workers, and immunizations for vaccine-preventable
diseases. Thorough environmental cleaning and sterilization is also an important part of
infection control.
Other infection control objectives recommended by the CDC include collaborating with the
infection control department in monitoring and investigating potentially harmful infectious
exposures and outbreaks among patients and personnel; and maintenance and confidentiality
of patient and personnel health records. Infection control is not limited to outbreak
investigation but is continual surveillance to look for rising trends in nosocomial
infections and is continual reinforcement of education.
Healthcare Facility Outbreaks in Los Angeles County - 2000
Resources
Infection Control/Infectious Disease Organizations
The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and the Association for
Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) are national,
non-governmental organizations dedicated to infection control in healthcare facilities.
They both publish regular journals (American Journal of Infection Control and Infection
Control and Hospital Epidemiology, respectively) that have papers on outbreak investigations,
policy statements, etc. Additionally, both provide current news and training courses on
infection control issues.
Resources
