REQUIREMENTS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND ESSENTIAL ACTIVITIES OF INFECTION-CONTROL AND EPIDEMIOLOGY IN HOSPITALS - A CONSENSUS PANEL REPORT

The scientific basis for claims of efficacy of nosocomial infection su rveillance and control programs was established by the Study on the Ef ficacy of Nosocomial Infection Control project. Subsequent analyses ha ve demonstrated nosocomial infection prevention and control programs t o be not only clinically effective but also cost-effective. Although g overnmental and professional organizations have developed a wide varie ty of useful recommendations and guidelines for infection control, and apart from general guidance provided by the Joint Commission on Accre ditation of Healthcare Organizations, there are surprisingly few recom mendations on infrastructure and essential activities for infection co ntrol and epidemiology programs. In April 1996, the Society for Health care Epidemiology of America established a consensus panel to develop recommendations for optimal infrastructure and essential activities of infection control and epidemiology programs in hospitals. The followi ng report represents the consensus panel's best assessment of needs fo r a healthy and effective hospital-based infection control and epidemi ology program. The recommendations fall into eight categories: managin g critical data and information; setting and recommending policies and procedures; compliance with regulations, guidelines, and accreditatio n requirements; employee health; direct intervention to prevent transm ission of infectious diseases; education and training of healthcare wo rkers; personnel resources; and nonpersonnel resources. The consensus panel used an evidence-based approach and categorized recommendations according to modifications of the scheme developed by the Clinical Aff airs Committee of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the C enters for Disease Control and Prevention's Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee.