UNE 179006 Surveillance, prevention and control of infections related to health care

​UNE 179006: System for the surveillance, prevention and control of infections related to health care in hospitals.

Infection currently constitutes one of the most significant risks that can affect patients during the care process. The Survey of the prevalence of nosocomial infections in Spanish hospitals (EPINE) indicates that, in 2011, between 6.1% and 6.5% of hospitalised patients had an infection related to their health care, and this percentage increased to between 6.9% and 7.5% in hospitals with more than 500 beds. Furthermore, the National Study on Adverse Effects (ENEAS), related with health care, indicated that, in 2005, 25.34% of adverse effected detected were related with the presence of an infection that developed in hospitals. As a result, reducing this risk is a quality objective in most hospitals.

On the basis of the results of the SENIC study (Study of the Efficacy of Nosocomial Infection Control), there is a scientific basis that demonstrates that the implementation of infection surveillance, prevention and control programmes in hospitals, can significantly reduce the risk of infection.

The aim of this standard is to establish the minimum requirements of a system to manage the surveillance, prevention and control of infections related with health care, with a view to identify and minimise the risks of contracting and transmitting infections between patients, staff and visitors in hospitals.

This standard is applicable for hospitals that want to:

1.  implement, maintain, document and improve the effectiveness of infection control, to prevent ARIs;
   
2.  verify conformity with the requirements of this standard to inform customers and authorities;
   
3.  establish a self-assessment system;