SURVEILLANCE OF HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) have been a serious problem ever since patients were first congregated in hospitals. Apart from causing considerable morbidity, mortality, and disruption of work, HAIs are a drain on expensive resources. The main lesson derived from the past several decades of experience and research is that prevention and control of HAIs requires an organized and ongoing management system. An important aspect of this system is an effective surveillance program that involves continuous monitoring of HAIs. The purpose of this article is to present a concise review of recently reported methods of surveillance for HAIs, with comments on the efficacy of various methods.