Infection control in the Netherlands.
A survey was made by the Dutch association of infection control practitioners (VHIG) concerning the organization of infection control in Dutch hospitals and the activities of its members. The results are reported and compared with recent American studies. A comparison is made between a group of infection control technicians (ICTs) who were not nurses and a group of nurses (ICNs), working in infection control. Although the ICT has significantly more daily contacts with the hospital microbiologist and is more often secretary to the infection control committee and the ICN visits the outpatient department significantly more often, the other activities in their practice are essentially the same. From this study we conclude that either an ICT or an ICN can adequately function as an infection control practitioner in the Netherlands.
D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D013041:Specialties, Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires