title: Infection control: past, present, and future issues.
abstract: Primary care providers serve as role models for the prevention of nosocomial infections through membership on hospital infection-control committees and daily patient care. This article will review five fundamental infection control measures: surveillance, isolation, hand washing, disinfection, and sterilization.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Whitehouse
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sexton
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Kirkland
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004203:Disinfection; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods*; D010356:Patient Isolation; D013242:Sterilization