Proceedings of Seminar #99: Surveillance Methodology, 1987 Annual Meeting, American Society for Microbiology

Our understanding of nosocomial infection control has progressed from an era when largely untested extensions of logic provided very precise and specific rules of conduct for hospital personnel. Today, we can be much less confident of the value of many of these restrictive measures. We now better appreciate the complexities and subtleties involved in quantifying risks, in understanding modes of disease transmission, and in evaluating effectiveness of control measures. In this area of concern with humane yet cost-effective care, increasingly complex technologies, and greater appreciation of previously unrecognized but important reservoirs for disease transmission, the need for valid evaluation of risks and benefits is more critical than ever, presenting an important challenge and opportunity to hospital epidemiologists. If we are to cont inue expanding our knowledge through applied research and communicating the findings in ways persuasive enough to achieve the potential benefits from that work, we must periodically re-examine our infection surveillance and control program strategies. Over the years, we have accumulated a wealth of guide-