TS 12213

TS 12213 is the standard that addresses criteria for infection control in hospitals, with a focus on how preventive measures are planned, organised, implemented, and monitored. In a hospital setting, infection control is a coordinated activity that connects clinical practice, staff responsibilities, material flow, environmental hygiene, and oversight processes.

Where infection control fits in hospital operations

Infection control is the set of organisational and technical measures used to interrupt transmission chains, identify risks early, and reduce cross-infection during care delivery. In hospitals, this work is closely tied to patient safety, workforce protection, and service quality. The emphasis of this standard is on the criteria used to evaluate infection control activities, that is, how the programme is managed and controlled at institutional level.

What the scope points to

• Planning and prioritising preventive measures
• Organising infection control activities and defining responsibilities
• Monitoring, evaluating, and supervising implementation
• Managing hospital processes that reduce the risk of transmission
• Using a quality-and-control approach alongside related hospital standards

From a general technical perspective, infection control brings together complementary practices such as isolation procedures, hand hygiene, sterilisation and disinfection, waste management, environmental cleaning, and surveillance. TS 12213 places emphasis on the hospital-wide evaluation and management framework rather than on detailed clinical protocols. For that reason, it serves as a useful reference for understanding how infection control programmes should be addressed within an institutional structure.