[Quality standards for hospital hygiene in intermediate and large hospitals in Switzerland: a recommended concept].
The incidence of nosocomial infections is one of the most important quality indicators in health care. It increases the economical burden, augments morbidity, lengthens hospital stay, and is associated with a high mortality rate. Infection control programs are designed to minimize such adverse events. An effective infection control program can reduce the incidence of nosocomial infections by over 30%. It is regarded as among the most cost-efficient medical interventions available in modern public health. The national law for health insurance (KVG) makes quality in health care also a legal issue. This law enforces quality assurance on a scientific basis. In Switzerland there are no national guidelines to define the nature and extent of infection control in health care institutions as in many other European countries. In the United States quality standards are part of accreditation of any health care institution. Evaluating scientific evidence and international experience this article provides the rationale for a quality standard for infection control in Swiss hospitals. It features three general rules and five elements of structural quality. The recommendations are: (1) Every hospital must have a system to control nosocomial infection in patients, care givers and visitors. (2) This program consists of defined elements of structural quality. (3) The program is permanently being improved in its quality. The basic elements are: (1) infection control committee, (2) infection control team, (3) guidelines, (4) surveillance, (5) infrastructure. The feasability and impact of this standard has to be evaluated.
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Abteilung Spitalhygiene, Kantonsspital, Universitätsspitäler Basel.
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D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004203:Disinfection; D006276:Health Facility Size; D006801:Humans; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D013242:Sterilization; D013557:Switzerland