NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS

Prevention of nosocomial infections in France was updated in 1996 thro ugh the publication of important guidelines issued by French health au thorities. Topics such as, the right way to clean and disinfect endosc opes, rational use of antibiotics in hospitals, or septic isolation, h ave been clarified in order to harmonize prevention strategies. Severa l questions remain unanswered on the risk of nosocomial transmission o f hepatitis C virus, or prion, which make it difficult to give out rat ional prevention guidelines. Professional exposure to bloodborne virus es, especially after percutaneous injuries, remains a major topic of c oncern. Chemoprophylaxis after occupational exposure to HIV was modifi ed according to the new antiretroviral treatment of this disease. New risk-factors from surgical site infections, such as hypothermia, were identified, and the benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis strategies was a ssessed.