Preventing nosocomial infection through the use of effective management techniques.

The prevention and control of infection in health care institutions provide challenges for the medical community. The changing relationships among the infectious agent, the mode of transmission, and the compromised host make it difficult to develop effective nosocomial infection control programs. Few studies have been published concerning the application of standard management techniques to the organization and planning of infections control programs. Much activity in the field of infection control today is directed toward crisis intervention. An effective infection control program encompasses a wide base of responsibility and involves the majority of hospital personnel. Such a complex program requires the utilization of sound management techniques, systematic evaluation, and the integration of productive educational programs.