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Control and Prevention of Nosocomial Infections—Infection Control Committees
The ICC oversees the control and prevention of nosocomial infections in hospitals and clinics. This committee acts much like a DTC and cooperates with a DTC to control these infections. An ICC typically will have a physician, nurse, laboratory microbiologist or technologist, and other members, all of whom review surveillance data and institute policy and procedures. Other members may include hospital administration, medical staff (such as an infectious disease specialist, surgeon, or an obstetrician/gynecologist), laboratory, central sterile supply, housekeeping, and pharmacy staff. The ICC membership may be similar to that of the DTC, and the two committees may, in fact, share some of the same members. All individuals on the committee must have the formal training to effectively carry out the committee’s functions. To be effective and productive, the committee must also have the necessary authority and scope of activity. A direct line of authority from the hospital administration and Ministry of Health officials is required. The committee authority of should include the right to examine patients, take cultures if necessary, isolate patients, and close wards in outbreaks. The recommendations and actions of the committee should be disseminated throughout the hospital and enforced.
The goal of the ICC is to prevent the spread of infections within the health care facility. Primary functions include the following—
• Addressing food handling, laundry handling, cleaning procedures, visitation policies, and direct patient care practices, including hand washing and immunizations.
• Obtaining and managing critical bacteriological data and information, including surveillance data
• Developing and recommending policies and procedures pertaining to IC
• Recognizing and investigating outbreaks of infections in the hospital and community
• Intervening directly to prevent infections
• Educating and training health care workers, patients, and nonmedical caregivers