Hospital infection control methods need updating

Healthcare Purchasing News, Feb, 2004

A nationwide survey of hospital infection control practitioners reveals that 74% believe that current infection control techniques and technologies need to be updated even though infection control remains a top priority in U.S. hospitals. According to the survey, hospital infection control practitioners recognize that protecting the surgical site is critical to patient care (100%).

The survey also revealed that 83% of respondents believe that advances in the science of infection control, such as products that actively defend against microbes, should be used in their institution to combat surgical site infections. The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive. Telephone interviews were conducted among 301 infection control practitioners from August 21 to August 25, 2003. The survey was commissioned by ETHICON Products, a division of ETHICON, INC., a Johnson & Johnson company. Complete survey results are available by calling (212) 845-4204.