Setting up a community and mental health infection control service

Abstract

In February 1996, a large public hospital network in New Zealand decided to expand its infection control service to include coverage for both community health and mental health within its geographical area, a task undertaken by the hospital-based infection control practitioner (ICP). This paper describes the establishment of the service, the problems encountered by the ICP, and the initiatives and strategies implemented to address identified problems. Plans to improve the service in the future are also outlined.