6.15—Hospital-acquired infections and practice codes

Hospital-acquired infection risk is reduced by interrupting transmission: identify the pathogen and reservoir, clean or sterilise equipment, isolate cases, use hand hygiene and protect vulnerable patients.

Different controls act on different links. A disinfectant reduces environmental load, aseptic technique prevents transfer during procedures, and antibiotic stewardship reduces selection for resistant strains.

A catheter-associated infection needs both sterile insertion and ongoing site care; treating only the patient after symptoms appear leaves the route of transmission unchanged.

“Sterile” equipment and “clean” surfaces are not interchangeable, and an infection-control measure is not automatically effective without compliance and monitoring.