ECDC publishes today the results of its first point prevalence survey (PPS) on healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use in European hospitals. Based on findings from this survey, ECDC estimates that on any given day, one in 18 patients in European hospitals has at least one healthcare-associated infection. The report also presents data on the most commonly reported infections, which microorganisms are most commonly reported as causing them, how often antimicrobial drugs are being used to treat these infections and data on infection control structure and processes in the hospitals. More than 1 000 hospitals in 30 European countries participated in this first Europe-wide PPS.
In 2011–2012, 29 EU/EEA Member States and Croatia participated in the first EU-wide, ECDC-coordinated point prevalence survey of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use in acute care hospitals.
Peri-operative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) is considered one of the most effective measures for the prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs). An ECDC commissioned ‘Systematic review and evidence-based guidance on peri-operative antibiotic prophylaxis’ was performed to identify effective measures to improve compliance with PAP among healthcare professionals. The
In December 2012, the TRICE-IS project (Implementation of a training strategy for Infection Control in the European Union) started as a next step in ECDC’s support to national training programmes for infection control and hospital hygiene (IC/HH).
WHO “SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands” is an annual campaign that makes part of major global effort to support healthcare workers to improve hand hygiene practices in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, and thus support the prevention of healthcare-associated infections.
This document is published with the intent of proposing a comprehensive list of core competencies that should be adopted by infection control and hospital hygiene professionals across Europe.
The protocol provides a standardised methodology to Member States and hospitals in response to article II.8.c of Council Recommendation 2009/C 151/01 of 9 June 2009 on patient safety, including the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections. It also integrates the main variables of the ESAC hospital PPS protocol, thereby providing support to Council Recommendation 2002/77/EC of 15 November 2001 on the prudent use of antimicrobial agents in human medicine.