The main aim of the infection control programme is to lower the risk of an infection during the period of hospitalisation. The three thrust areas for the infection control programme are as follows.
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1. Development of an effective surveillance system. Surveillance implies that observed data are regularly analysed and reported to those who are in position to take appropriate actions.
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2. Development of policies and procedures to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infection.
3. Maintenance of a continuing education programme for hospital personnel.
Basic Elements of a Control Programme:
1. Providing a system of identification and reporting of infections, and providing a system for keeping records of infection in patients and personnel.
2. Providing for good hospital hygiene, aseptic techniques and sterilisation and disinfection practices.
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3. Providing for personnel orientation and continuing education programme in infection prevention and control.
4. Providing for coordination with all departments and with medical audit committee in quality assurance. The scope of an infection control programme will depend upon the specific need of the hospital, based on the magnitude of infection problem, hospital size, and types of patients.
The best way to carry out infection control programme in the hospital is to establish an infection control committee.
Infection Control Committee (ICC):
For any control measures to be effective, it is necessary first to define the extent of the problem. Besides differing from hospital-to-hospital, the extent of the problem varies from one specialty to other in the same hospital.
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The need for establishment of a programme to study, monitor and effectively deal with the problem of hospital infection is now considered essential by all hospitals.
The planning and implementation of the hospital’s infection control programme is best affected through a committee made up of the representatives of various clinical and other disciplines.
Members:
The infection control committee (ICC) will have the responsibility for monitoring the occurrence of hospital infection and recommend corrective action.
Members of the committee should include representatives from the disciplines of medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, pathology, administration, nursing staff, and microbiology section of the hospital laboratory.
Representatives of the housekeeping staff, dietary department, engineering and maintenance department, pharmacy, operation theatres and central sterile supply department (CSSD) are called for on consultative basis when required.
It is important for the members of the infection control committee to be able to devote enough time for the programme.
Hospital Epidemiologist:
If available, a hospital epidemiologist a specialist in preventive and social medicine can help in moderating the infection control policies of the hospital.
In addition, this officer will also be involved in investigating occurrence of clusters of cases and in investigating unusual cases of infection. The epidemiologist with his staff can be utilised in the development and implementation of in-service education of hospital staff in infection control.
Infection control officer: He is the de facto secretary of the ICC. The microbiologist of the ICC seems to be most suitable to function as the infection control officer (ICO).
However, a motivated clinician can also be quite effective in this assignment. He will work in association with a group of hospital staff including surgeon, physician, microbiologist, nursing and administrative staff.
Chairman:
The chairmanship of the committee should be taken up by the hospital administrator, or should vest in an individual who has experience and interest in infection control.
In the latter case, it is not necessary to have a bacteriologist or pathologist as chairman a senior physician or surgeon will be equally suitable. The role of the chairman of the ICC is very important because upon him depends the success of the control programme.