The new protection against infection act

The emergence of new infectious diseases and, as a result of globalisation, exposure to diseases that had already been largely eradicated in the Feder al Republic of Germany show how important it is to put a Protection against Infection Act into place that matches a current requirement profile. A sin e qua non for targeted action is a valid data pool on infection epidemiolog y and its evaluation on the regional, Laender and federal levels. Under the recent Act, more effective use is to be made of laboratory diagnosis techn ologies, and the co-operation between the medical profession, public health services and scientists intensified to enhance the protection of the gener al public against infections. Of special importance here are the tasks that fall to the health office as lower health authority with its subsidiary se rvices and in its function as the partner and advisor of the citizens and t he inpatient and outpatient health care services. Regulations covering the reporting system, vaccinations and immunizations, hospital hygiene, schools and community facilities, food trade, water for human use, work with patho gens have been rendered more precise and/or updated.