Healthcare associated Infections (HAI) or infections arising as a result of admission and treatment in a hospital can be the major cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalised patients. The hazard extends to the staff working in hospitals and also into the community at large. This has become more important in today’s changing environment, dealing with the threats of newly emerging pathogens and the widespread dissemination of old pathogens. Each year more is learnt about hospital infection control as a science, yet the human input is never so important as now to keep pace with the challenges of modern medicine and sophisticated therapeutic modalities many of which cause a significant increase in patient population susceptible to healthcare associated infections.

The prevention, control and treatment of such infections is a concern for all health care professionals working in a hospital including microbiologists, clinical specialists from various disciplines of medicine and surgery, nursing and medical administrators.

The Hospital Infection Society - India is an association of medical professionals with a special interest in the prevention and control of hospital infection. It is registered with Registrar of Societies at Delhi.

Founded in 1991, the society presently has about 1100 life members. The aims and objectives of the Hospital Infection Society- India are:

Purpose and Objectives

(1)  Disseminate information and recent updates on various aspects of Healthcare associated Infections and their prevention.

(2)  Provide a common platform for personnel active in the field of prevention of healthcare associated infections, viz. Microbiologists, Administrators, Clinicians, etc.

(3)  Provide individuals and institutions with information and assistance to form hospital Infection control programmes and conduct related activities.

(4)  Provide relevant information on practical aspects of prevention and control of Healthcare associated Infections

(5)  Hold training courses and educational symposia and seminars on various aspects of Hospital Infections.

(6)  Form liaison with similar associations at national and international levels.

National Conferences of the Hospital Infection Society India 

The Society has held 14 National conferences and 1 International conference in the past: Mumbai (1992), Bangalore (1993), Ahmedabad (1995) and Indore (1997), Delhi (1998), Jaipur (2000), Vellore (2003), Hyderabad (2005), Chandigarh (2007), Pune (2009), Delhi (2011), Mumbai (2013) Delhi- International Conference (IFIC-HISI 2015), Guwahati (2017), Hyderabad (2018). The next conference will be held at Kolkata in November 2019. 

The primary objective of these conferences has been to provide an educational forum for microbiologists, administrators, clinicians and other health care professionals involved in the practice of control of infection in the hospital. It is one forum where each discipline learns from the other towards an integrated approach to the problems resulting in better and effective decision making. Several of the topics are directly related to practical experience like education in hospital infection control, cost effective strategies, investigation and control of outbreaks and infection control in special care units. New and emerging infections, antibiotic policies and control of antibiotic resistance also play an important part in the meeting.

Official Publication

Journal of Patient Safety & Infection control (JPSIC) is the official Journal of the Society which aims to spread awareness and encourage research in the field of healthcare associated infections and promote rational usage of antimicrobials.

Membership of International Federation of Infection Control

Hospital Infection Society-India is a member of the International Federation of Infection Control, a federation of 56 Infection Control Societies over the globe.

Membership of HISI

The Society consists of Life, Associate Life, Honorary and Industry Academic Support members. A member is one who will at all times attempt to further the cause of the society, pay the dues regularly and will attempt to attend the meetings whenever called for.

Admission and Qualifications

Active membership is open to individual Microbiologists, Clinicians and Administrators and also trainees who are actively involved in the field of Hospital Infections and Control. In exceptional circumstances membership can be offered to others working in the field of Hospital Infection prevention and control.

Honorary members are special invitees as decided by the Executive Council without subscription.

Industry Academic Support membership is offered to commercial and other organisations that wish to further the cause of control of Hospital Infections.

For membership contact Hony. Secretary Dr. Raman Sardana (ramansardana@apollohospitals.com)

Address for Correspondence:

Dr. Raman Sardana, Hony. Secretary -Hospital Infection Society India

Head, Infection Prevention and Control and Chairperson HICC

Senior Consultant and Head, Microbiology

Academic Coordinator, Laboratory Services

Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Sarita Vihar

Delhi-Mathura Road, New Delhi-110076

E-mail: ramansardana@apollohospitals.com