Continuous surveillance of ‘alert organisms’ and ‘alert conditions’ is an essential component in the prevention and control of infection within hospitals. The objective of this type of surveillance is the early detection and prevention of outbreaks (National Audit Office, 2000). It is also used to assess the effect of any preventative and control strategy. Infection control surveillance data can also be applied as an effective tool when planning some services for hospitals.
Surveillance data was used to support the need for a 24-hour domestic service within a large acute NHS Trust by liaising with the domestic service contractors and the Trust's domestic monitoring team.
House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology. (1998) Resistance to Antibiotics and Other Antimicrobial Agents. The Stationery Office: London.
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Infection Control Nurses Association and Association of Domestic Management. (1999) Standards for Environmental Cleanliness in Hospitals.Infection Control Nurses Association and Association of Domestic Managers.
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MaurerIM. (1974) Hospital Hygiene. Edward Arnold Ltd: London.
8.
National Audit Office. (2000). The Management and Control of Hospital Acquired Infection in Acute NHS Trusts in England.The Stationery Office: London.
9.
NHS Estates. (2001) National Standards of Cleanliness for the NHS. HMSO: Norwich.
