healthcare-associated infection


healthcare-associated infection

Any infection by any pathogen acquired as a consequence of a healthcare intervention or which is acquired by a healthcare worker in the course of his or her duties.
The Health Protection Agency (UK) assists infection control and control of antimicrobial resistance in healthcare settings by monitoring infections with mandatory and voluntary surveillance schemes for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile infection (C diff/CDI), glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE), bacteraemia, and surgical site infections (of which some orthopaedic categories are mandatory) via the surgical site infection surveillance scheme (SSISS). Other healthcare-associated infections, including antimicrobial (antibiotic) resistant micro-organisms, are also monitored via a voluntary microbiology laboratory reporting system.