[Costs and benefits in hospital infection control]

Economic concerns have taken on increasing importance in infection control since the mid 1970s in the US. The US studies on the economics of infection control have been mainly of the following types: 1) Cost estimates, 2) Effectiveness estimates, 3) Cost-effectiveness analysis, 4) Cost-benefit analysis, 5) Cost-utility analysis, 6) Cost-containment studies, 7) Cost minimization analysis and 8) Meta-analysis. The Japanese Society of Environmental Microbiology was established in 1986. There are, however, few papers on the economics of infection control in Japan. The main problems are shortage in human resources and the health care system. It is high time that a new research system of hospital infections will be established in Japan.