Issue 39, published on August 2009.

Infection Control: Principles and Practices

The objectives of an infection control programme are to reduce the incidence and risk of preventable healthcare associated infections and to prevent the spreading of infection within healthcare facilities and the community including the establishment of a system for proper management of healthcare waste.

Infection control is based on common sense and on safe practices and can be implemented with minimal cost. A well-balanced infection control program should save the health care facility a considerable amount of money. For example, high rates of sepsis among patients admitted to intensive care units can be controlled by meticulous hand hygiene and by use of aseptic techniques rather than by prescribing expensive antimicrobials, which may further contribute to the problem.

Infection control has traditionally focused on preventing post procedure infections in patients. However, there should now be awareness of the potential for infection from Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C virus as well as from HIV and TB and the scope of infection control activities needs to be broadened accordingly. Attention should also be directed towards minimizing the risk of transmitting infections not only to patients but also to service providers, to ancillary staff, including cleaning and housekeeping personnel, and to members of the community.

Infection control and healthcare waste management is an essential though often underrecognized and under-supported part of the infrastructure of health care but the Cambodian MOH has recognized it as one of the priority areas
that needs improvement. Therefore, the MOH has established a national task force to implement its components and is about to fi nalize the National Infection Control Guidelines that will provide detailed information and policy on infection control and healthcare waste management for healthcare facilities. Training of healthcare providers is also part of our future plans.

This issue of the Health Messenger would like to give readers a fi rst insight into this important topic. It is my hope that it will raise awareness about the importance of hygiene and of following the proper procedures at health facilities and that it will
contribute to make health facilities and communities safer by improving practices.

Professor Koum Kanal
Director
National Maternal and Child Health Centre
Ministry of Health