title: [Molecular epidemiology in healthcare-associated infections: guidelines of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health (SItI)].
abstract: Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are the most frequent and severe complication acquired in healthcare settings and have a significant impact in terms of morbidity, mortality and costs. This document is aimed at different health professionals and focuses on the role of molecular epidemiology in the prevention and management of these infections. It describes the role of molecular characterization and of bioinformatics archives, the organizational levels of laboratories, the evidence regarding cost-effectiveness, ethical aspects related to HAI, and highlights some specific peculiarities of Italy. Molecular epidemiology is an indispensable tool and should be part of a multidisciplinary approach in the proper management of HAI.
authors.affiliation: Section of Hygiene-Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boccia
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barchitta
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colotto
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ianuale
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quattrocchi
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agodi
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006801:Humans; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology