PRESENTATION

Infections related to health care (IACs) are among the main causes of morbidity and mortality, being a world health problem, and consequently, raising related costs for both patients and public health institutions or private.

IACS control is transverse to all areas of health and requires training of a vast team at all levels (operational, technical and scientific) that are involved in the epidemiological chain of this adverse event, due to the multifactorial characteristics of IACs. A good example of this issue is the actions of mitigations that were needed to control the COVID-19 pandemic, which required efforts in all areas of health and the various professionals involved in direct and/or indirect care.

Thus a considerable part of the IACs can be avoided by applying prevention measures based on appropriate technical knowledge. Despite the legislation in force in Portugal, which determine the obligation to prevent and control with measures and proper standards, it has been observed that many institutions make these rules and recommendations, often due to lack of technical preparation and scientific knowledge in the area.

The absence or lack of technical qualification of professionals, the difficulty in accessing quality information, the lack of institutions that may provide technical advice on the guidance of basic IAC prevention and control standards, in their different interfaces, are important elements that make it difficult Compliance with this program wants at local level as at national level.

In this scenario, health professionals who work in health services play a key role in technical support and promotion of good practices for the prevention and control of IACs, and it is necessary to train these health professionals so that they can, in addition to performing recommended measures , manage a IACS prevention and control program. They must be able to be elements of awareness and changes in this area, for the dissemination of knowledge and good practices in different health institutions.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY CYCLE

Thus, this postgraduate course in quality and control of infection in health facilities, has the purpose of:

a) Train health professionals for the prevention and control of IACs as directed by law relevant to the subject, with critical and scientific thinking;
b) Train health professionals to evaluate quality processes involving IACS control and their interfaces with the objective of continuous improvement;
c) Empower the health professional to control health unit infections, with political, technical, epidemiological and educational skills, with central focus on quality and safety.

---

---

---