Infection Control

Military Programs Are Comparable to VA and Nonfederal Programs but Can Be Enhanced Gao ID: HRD-90-74 April 27, 1990

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO compared military hospitals' infection control programs to similar efforts in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and nonfederal hospitals.

GAO found that: (1) service guidelines did not include GAO-recommended elements, but military hospitals used most of the 56 basic elements considered essential to infection control programs; (2) military hospitals' infection control practitioners initiated element use; (3) the services provided military practitioners limited guidance and direction; (4) the extent of infection control program element use in military hospitals was similar to that in VA and nonfederal hospitals; (5) public and private-sector practitioners did not use the more labor-intensive elements; and (6) military infection programs did not have sufficient management to include all of the basic elements and service-required activities.

Recommendations

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