"Nosocomial infections (contracted during hospitalisation) would be no more than a fashionable topic for debate if they did not create a serious problem. The effect is less prejudicial to the quality of health as it is to the health care budget, which has run up enormous costs." (Goddet Bernard, Health review no. 620, 1997)
This comment sums up very well all that is at stake in hospital hygiene and the need to employ appropriate measures.
To overcome problems related to infection at Clinique Générale-Beaulieu we co-operate with Dr Daniel Lew’s Infectious Diseases Unit at the Cantonal Hospital. Dr Lew or one of his team members will come across to the Clinic on request by one of our Doctors and consult on very specific cases.
To maximize the quality of the health care provided at the Clinic, we have an infection prevention and control team that is supervised by Mrs V. Marchal, a clinical nurse who is specialised in hygiene.
The team treats all problems related to infection in general, and works closely with the UPCI (Unit for the Prevention and Control of Infection in the University Hospitals of Geneva), which is supervised by Prof D. Pittet.
The Hygiene Committee is comprised of the Director, Senior Medical Officer, Staff Doctor and professional nurses concerned. It is responsible for the drawing up of strategies, policies to be implemented, and any institutional constraints.
