Principle and perspective of healthcare-associated infection control
Article information
J Korean Med Assoc. 2018;61(1):5-12
Publication date (electronic) : 2018 January 17
doi :
https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2018.61.1.5
Received 2017 November 09; Accepted 2017 November 23.
Abstract
The concept of healthcare-associated infections broadens the scope of the previously developed concept of hospital-acquired infections. The principles of infection control can be summarized as follows: fight against resistance and block the spread of infection. To manage Infection control well, one should be familiar with the relevant mode(s) of transmission, appropriate precautions, hand hygiene, and the concepts of incidence, disinfection, sterilization, and resistance. Medical directors should also run the infection control committee competently and play the role of a liaison between departments. Although infectious disease management originated as a system implemented by each medical institution, it is developing into a networked system due to improvements in efficiency, the emergence of widespread information sharing, and the necessity of coherent guidelines. Therefore, infectious disease management is expected to be integrated into the foundation of public and private partnerships in the future. In addition, developments in molecular and digital technologies are expected to have further effects on infection control in the future. In particular, since science and technology are developing exponentially, with innovations emerging on a daily basis, it is necessary for workers in the infection control management field to actively engage with rapidly changing trends.
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