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Fundamentals of Infection Control and Strategies for the Intensive Care Unit

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Infectious Diseases in Critical Care

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Abstract

The mission of a hospital infection control program is to ensure continuous improvement in the delivery of patient care. This is done through a structured surveillance, which reviews, analyzes, and reports healthcare-associated infection (HAI) rates. It is the overall intent of the program to identify and reduce the risk of acquiring and transmitting infections among patients, staff, physicians, other healthcare professionals and visitors to the institution. There are in essence three specific goals of a hospital infection control program. The first goal involves the protection of the patient, which is accomplished through ensuring that a low risk exists for the acquisition of a HAI. This has become a daunting exercise in the presence of a high-risk patient population coupled with an environment that fosters the development of widespread antibiotic resistance. However, there is substantial published data demonstrating that an effective infection control program results in a reduced infection rate, increased case-specific patient survival, fewer complications and a reduction in hospitalized days [1].

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin & Froedtert Hospital, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA

    C. E. Edmiston Jr PhD, CIC

  2. Infection Control Section, Froedtert Hospital, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA

    P. J. Wilson BSN, CIC & B. F. Grahn BSN, CIC

Authors
  1. C. E. Edmiston Jr PhD, CIC
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  2. P. J. Wilson BSN, CIC
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  3. B. F. Grahn BSN, CIC
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Critical Care Department, Joan XXIII University Hospital, Carrer Mallafré Guasch, 4, E-43007, Tarragona, Spain

    Jordi Rello MD, PhD  & Alejandro Rodríguez MD, PhD  & 

  2. Medical Intensive Care Unit, Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8052, St. Louis, MO, 63110-1093, USA

    Marin Kollef MD (Professor of Medicine and Director) (Professor of Medicine and Director)

  3. Intensive Care Department, Joan XXIII University Hospital, Carrer Mallafré Guasch, 4, E-43007, Tarragona, Spain

    Emili Díaz MD

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© 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Edmiston, C.E., Wilson, P.J., Grahn, B.F. (2007). Fundamentals of Infection Control and Strategies for the Intensive Care Unit. In: Rello, J., Kollef, M., Díaz, E., Rodríguez, A. (eds) Infectious Diseases in Critical Care. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-34406-3_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-34406-3_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-34405-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-34406-3

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