Infection control in the outpatient setting

Abstract

Data regarding the observance of infection control practices in ambulatory healthcare settings is scarce. This type of data is important since the health care system has evolved in such a way that hospital stays are now briefer and there is an increased provision of healthcare in outpatient settings, such as day surgery, day hospital and ambulatory care services. Studies have shown that transmission of infectious diseases in outpatient health care settings is often associated with lack of, or insufficient adherence to, evidence-based preventive measures. Outpatients have less risk factors for nosocomial infections than inpatients, nevertheless, some high risk settings include physicians' waiting rooms (airborne and droplet transmission) and outpatient settings in which invasive procedures are performed. Preventive strategies consist in verifying the adherence to infection control guidelines (this should be done by specifically trained personnel), developing disinfection and sterilization protocols for medical devices (that are comparable to those used in hospitals), training of healthcare personnel, and development of efficacy-based infection control protocols for outpatient settings.