Guest editorial

Abstract

Hospital-acquired infections are common. While many are potentially preventable, we have no Australia-wide mechanism for adequately assessing the frequency of serious infections, or their causes. Without standardised surveillance data it is very difficult to identify the areas in greatest need of intervention, then measure, especially on a national basis, whether the interventions implemented actually improve patient outcomes. The concept of a national surveillance strategy for health-care related infection in Australia is supported by a number of peak organisations, including the National Health and Medical Research Council. However, progress towards this goal has been slow. Nevertheless, stirrings of interest in the federal and a number of state governments regarding health-care related adverse outcomes suggest such a national strategy may be possible in the foreseeable future.