[Role and responsibilities of infection control practitioners and hospital epidemiologists in the context of cost effectiveness].
In the past it was a guiding principle of hospital epidemiologists and infection control practitioners to compare the particular standards prevailing in their hospitals with the regulations, directives, and guidelines laid down by law and then to aim for some change. However, if we are to ever really achieve a reduction in nosocomial infections, it will be necessary to sensitize all hospital personnel to the problems associated with such infections and to convince them of the unavoidability of having to introduce specific new measures. Accordingly, surveillance of nosocomial infections and multiresistant pathogens, analysis of possible infection-associated problems, and initiating appropriate intervention procedures are indispensable goals for hospital hygiene if a decrease in nosocomial infections is to be realized. It would be possible to thus reduce expenditures representing more than the present costs for the hygiene staff. On the strength of their thorough specialist knowledge of the spread of nosocomial infections, it is also part of the responsibilities of infection control practitioners and hospital epidemiologists to question and to do away with senseless preventive measures and thereby contribute to reducing hospital expenditures.
Rüden
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Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin. Henning.Rueden@charite.de
Gastmeier
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D003363:Cost Control; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005858:Germany; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics*; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D010819:Physician's Role; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control