title: Infection control: the case for horizontal rather than vertical interventional programs.
abstract: The authors define two types of infection control interventions: horizontal, in which all infections at any site are reduced; and vertical, in which only specific organisms are targeted. We suggest that horizontal programs should form the platform of all infection control programs and the key question should be, what is the incremental value of a new vertical program?
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 East Broad Street, PO Box 980663, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. rwenzel@mcvh-vcu.edu
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Edmond
mesh_terms: D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control