Hospital Infection Control – An International Perspective

During the last decade, recognition of the problem of hospital-acquired infections has increased dramatically in industrialized countries. Subsequent measures to control and prevent these infections have demonstrated both the necessity and effectiveness of hospital infection control (HIC) programs. Incidence of infection has decreased with major economic savings. In the United States, national HIC guidelines were developed, and infection control committees were made mandatory for certification by the American Hospital Association. Assuming an initial hospital acquired infection rate of 5% in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control has estimated that 20% of hospital-acquired infections are being prevented with an estimated total savings each year of $277,106,000. The estimated total cost of the HIC program in the United States is $71,840,000.'