Hospital infection control in Poland

During the last 10 years, as in other areas of the public sector in Poland, the healthcare system has undergone important changes presenting a challen ge for medical staff and healthcare managers alike. Since 1997, the Polish Government has undertaken important healthcare reforms. New regulations hav e introduced decentralization of management and a financing system for hosp itals. These changes have provided favourable conditions in which to implem ent an infection control system for hospitals. The most important recent in itiatives are training courses and workshops for hospital staff organized i n co-operation with microbiologists and epidemiologists as well as preparat ion of recommendations and guidelines for hospitals. Several non-government al organizations have been set up to improve hospital hygiene, infection co ntrol and monitoring of antimicrobial resistance. (C) 2001 The Hospital Inf ection Society.