[Nosocomial infections. Evidence based infection control measures]

Nosocomial infections remain a major side effect of medical care and are at least in part preventable. Evidence-based, valid infection control recommendations are needed based on multidisciplinary development with local adjustment and incorporation into every-day practice. The article reviews the special aspects which have to be considered for producing evidence based guidelines in the field of infection control. However, guidelines designed to prevent nosocomial infections may be ignored even in the face of persuasive scientific evidence. Insufficient compliance to hand hygiene is the most prominent example. Factors which impede the process of translating research findings into infection control practice have to be identified and suggestions how these barriers may be overcome should be provided.