Audit in infection control

Abstract

Audit is a key function of infection control teams. Infection control audit programmes should include audits of infection control policies in wards and departments, and microbiological safety audits of the healthcare environment. This paper reviews the literature on healthcare audit with particular emphasis on published audits in infection control. Evidence of the efficacy of audit and feedback in improving infection control outcomes is presented, together with the nature of interventions necessary to bring about change.