Requirements for infrastructure and essential activities of infection control and epidemiology in out-of-hospital settings: A consensus panel report

In 1997 the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemio logy and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America established a c onsensus panel to develop recommendations for optimal infrastructure and es sential activities of infection control and epidemiology programs in out-of -hospital settings. The following report represents the Consensus Panel's b est assessment of requirements for a healthy and effective out-of-hospital- based infection control and epidemiology program. The recommendations fall into 5 categories: managing critical data and information; developing and r ecommending policies and procedures; intervening directly to prevent infect ions; educating and training of health care workers, patients, and nonmedic al caregivers; and resources. The Consensus Panel used an evidence-based ap proach and categorized recommendations according to modifications of the sc heme developed by the Clinical Affairs Committee of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's He althcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (Infect Control Hos p Epidemiol 1999;20:695-705).