Prospects for the prevention and control of Gram-negative nonsocomial infections

Nosocomial infections of bacterial origin continue to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among virtually all hospitalized patient populations. It is estimated that nearly 5% of all hospitalized individuals will acquire an infection during their stay. Approximately 3% of nosocomial infections will contribute to an eventual fatal outcome. This review describes the current situation and future prospects for combatting these infections.