[Nosocomial infections].

Nosocomial infections are caused by various factors, therefore it is very important for doctors, nurses and other medical staffs to cope with counter plans in their own situations. In terms of pathogens causing nosocomial infections, bacteria, fungi and viruses are equally important. The pathogens are transmitted either directly or indirectly in a medical facilities through medical treatments including surgical operations, catheterizations, handling the lines for chemotherapies, and so on. An increasing tendency of opportunistic infections in patients with protracted illness is seen lately. It must be emphasized that in each medical facility, a committee for control of nosocomial infection must be established. Infection surveillance and control programs must be provided and each person should have access to it. One of the most important activity of the infection control committee is to give a good education to medical workers to prevent nosocomial infections. Ministry of Health and Welfare has launched control programs for nosocomial infections since a nationwide MRSA-panic spread. The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases and Japanese Society of Environmental Infections have been contributing to control nosocomial infections for more than a decade. These organizations will promote research programs as well as surveillance and control programs for preventing nosocomial infections.