[Strategies for prevention of healthcare associated infection]

In light of the hazard of healthcare associated infection (HAI) and pandemic increase of multiresistant pathogens the prevention and control of HAI by implementing infection control strategies in a structured and systemic manner are becoming increasingly important in order to assure patient safety.A well balanced implementation of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention in the format of a multibarrier concept together with surveillance of outcome measures are critical elements for a good hygiene practice. Criteria for structure-quality are optimal planned facility interieur supporting the clinical work-flow, adequate staffing of infection control practitioners and nurses, management of processes supporting infection prevention measures together with facility specific SOPs, and Surveillance and monitoring of the outcome together with feed-back to staff. Finally, any healthcare facility must be prepared for acute crisis such as outbreak management or management of critical incidences related to HAIs.