control programs . In the mid-1970s , CDC initiated the Study on the Effectiveness of Nosocomial Infection Control ( SENIC ) which revealed that hospitals with CDC-style infection control programs had significantly fewer HAI rates . SENIC verified the importance of hospitals to incorporate nosocomial infection ( HAI ) surveillance and infection control activities . The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Hospitals ( now The Joint Commission ) recommended that hospitals implement infection control programs in 1976 , then later mandated these programs . Hospitals began performing institution-specific HAI risk assessments of their patient populations as they established organized surveillance activities and infection prevention and control programs .”
Stover observes that in 1980 , the CDC recognized a need for HAI guidelines , including a guideline that addressed environmental infection control . “ Part I , in 1981 addressed specific problems and included frequently asked questions CDC received on various aspects of the environment ’ s association with HAI . Sections included handwashing , cleaning , disinfection , and sterilization of hospital equipment , microbiologic surveillance of the environment and healthcare personnel . Part I was sent to hospitals in 1981 . Parts I and II were combined , then sent to acute care hospitals across the United States in late 1982 , CDC updated , revised , and published a guideline in 1985 for Handwashing and Hospital Environmental Control . CDC ’ s 1980s documents and revisions were used widely by infection prevention and control professionals .”
Stover continues , “ Scientific knowledge of environmental infection risks and infection control practices had improved immensely by the early 2000s , as compared with the mid-1980s . More patients were at risk due to their underlying conditions , and some were at increased risk associated with therapy . These patients were more vulnerable to environmental contaminants , particularly during engineering maintenance and construction activities within or immediately external to the hospital facility . Airborne pathogens , such as aspergillus species , and waterborne pathogens , such as Legionella or aerosolized waterborne bacteria were being reported more frequently . C . difficile infection transmission in hospitals was reported .”
Most importantly , Stover reminds us that , “ Over the ensuing 15 years , epidemiologists , infectious diseases physicians , and infection prevention and control professionals recognized
22 june 2023 • www . healthcarehygienemagazine . com