Nosocomial infections are contracted in hospitals or during surgical procedures.

Nosocomial infections are not complications related to the illness or surgical procedure that resulted in the initial hospitalisation.

 In the vast majority of cases, nosocomial infections are not the result of medical or professional errors.

 Nosocomial infections are simply medical accidents that occur during treatment, and are an ever-present risk associated with hospitalisation. Such infections have existed as long as hospitals.

 The origin of the word «nosocomial» can be traced to the Latin word «Nosocomium», which means hospital, and the Greek word «Nosokomeion».

 During the middle ages, hospital infections were considered to be divine wrath. In the 12^th Century for example, the Church persecuted Theodore of Bologna as a heretic for suggesting that medical procedures were the cause of diseases and infections. In the 17^th Century, nosocomial infections were attributed to particles circulating in hospital air. Improving hospital ventilation systems was thought to be the solution. Late in the 19^th Century, Louis Pasteur discovered that germs or bacteria, were the cause of nosocomial infections and demonstrated the importance of ensuring that conditions were aseptic, or free of disease causing micro-organisms.

During the middle ages, hospital infections were considered to be divine wrath. In the 12^th Century for example, the Church persecuted Theodore of Bologna as a heretic for suggesting that medical procedures were the cause of diseases and infections. In the 17^th Century, nosocomial infections were attributed to particles circulating in hospital air. Improving hospital ventilation systems was thought to be the solution. Late in the 19^th Century, Louis Pasteur discovered that germs or bacteria, were the cause of nosocomial infections and demonstrated the importance of ensuring that conditions were aseptic, or free of disease causing micro-organisms.

 Many diseases such as tuberculosous, which have long been considered curable, are once again a cause for concern. New diseases such as AIDS or SARS have appeared. Moreover, the bacterias that cause diseases are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Over the last three decades, the number of nosocomial infections has increased dramatically, and constitutes 30% of the «undesirable occurrences» that undermine patient safety and the quality of health care. Infection control reflects directly on the efficiency of any given hospital and its ability to provide safe, quality care.

 The current problem

 There are two aspects to this problem :

 1/ Although nosocomial infections have always been a risk, they have more recently become a serious public safety hazard due to their impact on the individual, the economy, and society in general.
 The public health, legislative, and judicial systems are poorly adapted to face the situation.
 Quebec, in particular, is ten years behind in the detection, prevention, and control of nosocomial infections.

 2/ Nosocomial infections are not inevitable and with proper measures, 50% to 80% of them can be prevented.
Detection and prevention methods are well established, accessible, and regularly applied.
Essentially, the prevention of nosocomial infections is a question of properly managing human, material, and financial resources. Effective risk management is of the utmost importance.
The detection and prevention of nosocomial infections represent 25% to 30% of treatment costs. Preventing these infections will markedly improve the accessibility, safety, and quality of health care. Furthermore, the savings generated by such measures can be reinvested in the health care system.