Risky business: failure to prevent and failure to communicate.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), important threats to patient safety, are considered differently from other adverse events. Gardam and his colleagues discuss several reasons for this and outline approaches that may bring about changes in attitudes and enhance HAI prevention. We comment on the potential preventability of HAIs, the need for improved communication strategies and the different vision of the role of infection control personnel suggested by Gardam et al. Recent developments in infection control structure and management and patient safety in Quebec are summarized.
Moore
Dorothy L
DL
Associate Infection Control Physician for Child and Adolescent Services, The Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre.
Ste-Marie
Micheline
M
D003142:Communication; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007857:Leadership; D005791:Patient Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011792:Quebec; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety