HCAIs, along with the increased resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobials, are associated problems with a wide world importance, and no country or healthcare institution can ignore the implications of these infections and their impact on patients, healthcare units and community, such as increased morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospitalization time and costs.
The prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections requires coordinated efforts at all levels of healthcare organizations. The EU Council recommendation 2009/C of 9 June 2009 on patient safety, including the prevention and control of HCAIs, and the European Commission’s related implementation reports, stressed the need for fostering education and improving the training of healthcare personnel at all levels, ensuring adequate numbers of trained infection control and hospital hygiene staff, focusing on key-areas in the field of HCAIs prevention and control.
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
An agency of the European Union (https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en)