Prevention of healthcare-associated infections

Infectious diseases are a significant burden on public health and economic stability of societies all over the world. They have for centuries been among the leading causes of death and disability and presented growing challenges to health security and human progress. The threat posed by infectious diseases is further deepened by the continued emergence of new, unrecognized, and old infectious disease epidemics of global impact.In health care and public health practice settings, infection prevention includes various measures that prevent and contain the spread of infectious disease. These measures include:- Infection control standard, contact, droplet and airborne precautions- Procedures for decontamination of persons and disinfection of equipment and the environment- Quarantine of contacts (if necessary)- Prophylaxis of exposed individuals- Control of the vectors of infectionThis guideline outlines the basic principles of prevention and control of the infections.

Nora Mahfouf est titulaire d'un doctorat en biologie, option écotoxicologie, environnement et santé, de l'université Chadli Benjedid (El Tarf, Algérie).