Current Status
The SARS outbreak highlighted the importance of infection control in hospitals. To improve patient safety and combat nosocomial infections, Taiwan CDC coordinates annual inspection programs, gathers surveillance data on the occurrence of nosocomial infections and antimicrobial resistance, and formulates nosocomial infection control guidelines.
Our goals are:
1.To reduce nosocomial infections through national action plans and compilation of infection control guidelines.
2.To improve the performance of infection control programs in hospitals by boosting the quality of nosocomial infection control inspection programs and sharing nosocomial infection control experiences in on-site audits.
3.To continue promoting hospital participation and strengthening data quality in the Taiwan Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (TNIS) system.
4.To promote infection control and reduce healthcare-associated infections in long term care facilities by implementing infection control inspections.

Accomplishment
1.Nosocomial Infection Control Inspections
Starting in 2008, Taiwan CDC commissioned the Taiwan Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation to implement a quality improvement project for infection control inspections. Experienced infection control practitioners and infectious disease specialists joined local health authorities in conducting on-site inspections. Since 2017, the inspection frequency for each hospital was adjusted to at least once in every two years.
2.Nosocomial Infection Surveillance and Reporting
Hospitals may either provide nosocomial surveillance data through web-based entry or convey their data electronically through interchange platform to the reporting system. More than 430 hospitals enrolled in reporting in 2018. Participating hospitals and health authorities could retrieve feedback reports from the system, including infection densities, most common pathogen for nosocomial infection, their antimicrobial resistance proportions, etc.
3.Infection Control Journal
Taiwan CDC commissioned the Infection Control Society of Taiwan to publish the bimonthly Infection Control Journal, which provides healthcare workers with information on trends and research related to the prevention and control of nosocomial infections.
4.Implementation of Evidence-Based Infection Control Measures
National initiatives targeting on specific issues including the Hand Hygiene Initiative for Healthcare Workers (2010-2011), Nation-wide Campaign on Central Line Bundle (2013-2014) and Nation-wide Campaign on Care Bundles to Prevent CAUTI & VAP (2015-2017) were implemented. The initiative can reinforce patient safety, improve healthcare quality and reduce medical costs.
5.Infection Control Inspections in Long-term Care and Correction Organizations (Institutions) and Places
 Starting in 2014, competent authorities of the municipal and county (city) governments conduct infection control inspection of organizations (institutions) and places at least once every 4 years, which however may be increased or decreased based on needs; the central competent authority may assign personnel to assist in or conduct inspection.

Future Prospects
1.Draft, implement and revise regulations and guidelines on healthcare-associated infection based on recommendations announced by the WHO and leading countries. The information Taiwan CDC gathers from around the world on policies, laws, regulations and implementation results will serve as a reference for policymaking.
2.Revise the nosocomial infection control inspection quality improvement project on annual basis, according to the implementation experiences from previous years and outside recommendations.
3.Continue to promote hand hygiene and the care bundles those prevent device-associated infections including CLABSI, VAP and CAUTI. Thus, enable hospitals to make sustain progress in patient safety and healthcare quality, as well as reduce medical costs by reducing HAIs.
4.Continue to improve usefulness, simplicity, and efficiency of nosocomial surveillance system. It is expected that data reported to TNIS system will be useful for quality improvement activities.
5.Continue to conduct the infection control inspections of long-term care facilities in order to improve health care quality, reduce healthcare-associated infections and prevent outbreaks.