University of Virginia Library

Hospital Infection Prevention
Target Of University Program

With the aid of the questionnaire
and the hospital visits, the
University doctors and nurses working
on the project are able to
pinpoint each hospital's specific
needs and design individual programs
to meet these needs.

In addition, Miss Barbanel has
written a procedure manual for the
community hospitals on the prevention
and control of hospital-based
infections. The manual contains
information ranging from the insertion
of catheters to how often
infection committees should meet.

After the survey has been
completed, nurses from participating
hospitals may come back to
the University Hospital at any time
to consult with Mrs. Wheeler and
other project staff members. In
addition, the University Hospital
will sponsor an infectious disease
seminar in May for some 100
physicians and nurses from these
hospitals.

"This program demonstrates the
interest of the University of Virginia
Hospital in cooperative ventures
with neighboring community
hospitals," Dr. Kunin said.

"All of the hospitals have
enthusiastically welcomed our personnel,
and the effectiveness of the
program is already apparent," he
said. "Local infections committees
have been strengthened and there
has been a marked improvement in
hospital infection-control procedures."