[How to prevent nosocomial infections? An international overview]

Nosocomial infections take the bulk of all complications emerging hospitals and they are eminent indicators for the quality of health care and nursing. One of the most prominent clinical infections are infections associated with venous catheter, ventilation, and bladder catheter. They increase the risk for sepsis and septic shocks. A survey of international studies about the prevention of hospital acquired infections advises, that the incidence can be lowered by continuous presence of hospital infection control nurses, by standardised assessment and analysis of the infection rates with targeted adaption of evidence-based hygienic requirements--also referred to as surveillance--and by an adequate number of skilled staff in nursing and health care. From a European point of view, a harmonization of the requirements for qualifying of hospital infection control nurses and implementing of a European health agency would be desirable.