Table 6.1.

Critical functions often managed by hospital epidemiology

• Managing critical data and information • Developing, implementing and monitoring surveillance based upon an institution-specific risk assessment • Reporting of surveillance results/infection rates to monitoring services, administration and regulatory bodies •Developing and implementing policies and procedures to prevent or minimize infection risk (e.g. isolation precaution policies, etc.) • Intervening to prevent disease transmission • Outbreak investigation and control • Education and training • Collaborating with other programs to achieve common goals • Occupational and employee health – Postexposure prophylaxis in the health-care setting – Management of the infected health-care worker • Environmental health and safety – Construction infection control – Infectious waste management – Environmental cleaning service – Air and water handling – Respiratory protection • Disinfection and sterilization • Microbiology laboratory – Monitoring for isolation of sentinel organisms – Monitoring antibiotic resistance profiles • Pharmacy and therapeutics – Antibiotic utilization • Safety, quality and public reporting • Disaster preparedness committee – Bioterrorism preparedness