Infectious Diseases, Prevention and Control

Controlling Nosocomial Infections

Nosocomial infections are illnesses contracted in a hospital and may be caused by organisms that are resistant to drugs. A nosocomial infection is one that was not present or incubating before to the patient's admission to the hospital, but that developed within 72 hours after admission.

Control: Nosocomial infections can be managed by evaluating and comparing infection rates within a healthcare environment and adhering to optimum healthcare practices. The approach for nosocomial infection surveillance, as well as a study of large outbreaks, is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.