Keynote lecture: perspective of infection control and prevention in hospitals-importance of antisepsis.

Since the end of the 20th century, precautions of hospital infection have been re-evaluated with rationalization. Evidence-based precautions are proposed to be discussed. Problems of hospital infection in the early 21st century are highlighted as follows: (1) infections in compromised patients; (2) emergence of resistant bacteria; (3) terminal infection; (4) bloodborne virus infection; (5) neonatal infections; (6) emerging and re-emerging diseases. In the near future, it will be possible to lower the hospital infection rate by increasing medical in place of surgical treatments, the development of low invasive surgeries and/or progress of immunotherapy instead of chemotherapy. Strategies for hospital infection control and prevention in the early 21st century are based on evidence-based precautions, effective organization, accurate surveillance, compliance of precautions, risk management, outcome evaluation and feedback, economical evaluation, sterility assurance and peer review for these strategies.