In most countries there remains a great deal of work to be done in order to attain optimal efficiency in infection control and prevention. This is true of even the most medically advanced countries. Changing collective attitudes in the medical community and taking permanent action against nosocomial infections will have important consequences for the safety of patients and health care workers.

The non-observation by health care workers of standard infection prevention and control measures has caused an increase not only in the infection rate but also in the seriousness of NI’s whether they are acquired in hospitals or in the community at large.

In order to effectively control nosocomial infections, it is imperative that the following measures be observed:

All workers with open cuts, lesions, sores, etc. or eczema must avoid all contact with patients. They should neither touch nor handle medical material or instruments used for invasive procedures. Such measures would be observed until the worker is completely healed.

All instruments used to make incisions, to cut, or to pierce the skin must be properly sterilized before use. Any instrument such as syringes or tissues intended for one-time use must be properly disposed of immediately after use. Obviously, such material should never be reused. These measures apply to all health care establishments: medical, dental, and therapeutic. 

All establishments are required to put their NI prevention policy in writing.

Epidemiological regulations must be observed.

Workers must strictly adhere to all sterilization, disinfection, and cleanliness measures.

Sharp medical instruments and objects should be properly disposed of after use.

A maintenance program is required for materials used for sterilization and disinfection. Microbiological control and adequate documentation are also necessary.

Standardized procedures for cleaning rooms and various medical materials must be established. Workers would require special training in these procedures.

Any material required for infection control and prevention must be readily available.

The intervention procedures listed above have proven to be extremely effective in infection control and prevention. Unfortunately, the most serious problem in the fight against NI’s is changing the collective attitude of health care workers toward patient safety, and getting them to adhere to policies in this regard. Researchers in infection control need to discover the reasons why so many health care workers fail to adhere to NI prevention measures. Only then will we be able create an environment where patient safety and infection prevention become a matter of routine.