Nosocomial infections play a large and increasingly important role in state-of-the-art medical institutions. The aim and function of a hospital epidemiology unit for the various departments is to ensure effective and ongoing prevention of such infections in everyday clinical practice. In addition, the Department is tasked by the university to conduct research and to provide education aimed at increasing and disseminating knowledge about nosocomial infections and their prevention.
Consequently, the profile of activities of the Department of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology includes service functions (consultancy, inspection and monitoring activities in the immediate vicinity and wider environment of patients, as well as coordinating hygiene activities in the different areas of Vienna General Hospital), lecturing and teaching and scientific consideration of the new issues and situations that are constantly arising.