Document Detail


Responsibility for managing healthcare-associated infections: where does the buck stop?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19765862     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) requires a tripartite partnership between clinicians and carers, managers and government/Department of Health (DoH) across the whole health and social care community. Mandatory surveillance of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia and Clostridium difficile infection has shown a significant fall from peak numbers in 2003/04 and 2006, respectively, and there is now a zero tolerance approach to preventable infections and poor practice. Success so far has been based on senior management commitment, enhanced real-time surveillance, implementation of clinical protocols (high impact interventions, prudent prescribing), improved hand hygiene and environmental cleaning, and training and audit, backed up by a heightened performance management focus through targets and legislation (Code of Practice). DoH improvement teams have supported National Health Service trusts in implementing change. Responsibility for managing HCAI is a combination of managerial responsibility based upon compliance assurance that procedures and protocols are being implemented and personal professional responsibility of all clinicians and other healthcare workers.
Authors:
B I Duerden
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review     Date:  2009-09-17
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of hospital infection     Volume:  73     ISSN:  1532-2939     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Hosp. Infect.     Publication Date:  2009 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-11-20     Completed Date:  2010-02-04     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8007166     Medline TA:  J Hosp Infect     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  414-7     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Health, Wellington House, 133-155, Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UG, UK. brian.duerden@dh.gsi.gov.uk
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Bacteremia / epidemiology,  prevention & control
Clostridium difficile
Cross Infection* / epidemiology,  microbiology,  prevention & control
Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / epidemiology,  prevention & control
Great Britain / epidemiology
Humans
Infection Control* / legislation & jurisprudence,  methods,  standards
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Physician's Practice Patterns / standards*
Population Surveillance / methods*
Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology,  prevention & control
State Medicine / legislation & jurisprudence*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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