Consequences of inaction: importance of infection control practices.

The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in health care facilities is due in large part to overuse of antibiotics and poor compliance with recommended infection control practices. To control the spread of such pathogens, health care facilities must reduce overuse and abuse of antibiotics, and they must implement new multidisciplinary programs to improve hand hygiene practices among health care workers and improve compliance with recommended barrier precautions.