Kathmandu, May 4 Medical practitioners discussed ways to control hospital-acquired infections during a national seminar on Hospital Infection Prevention and Control organised here yesterday. “Not much has been done to prevent hospital infections. The government should formulate national infection control policy,” said Dr Rajendra Baral, charter president, Rotary Club of Durbarmarg. Infection is spread in the clinical setting by various means. Apart from health care staff and contaminated equipment, infection can also originate from the outside environment. Even people visiting patients may be the carriers of bacteria and viruses. As per World Health Organisation of every 100 hospitalised patients at any given time, seven in developed and 10 in developing countries acquire at least one hospital infection. The risk of acquiring hospital infection is significantly higher in ICUs, with approximately 30 per cent of patients affected by at least one episode of hospital infection with substantial associated morbidity and mortality. “Hospitals should be strict in granting permission to outside visitors and hygiene should be maintained,” said Dr Baral.  Early detection of infectious diseases, sterilisation of medical instruments and using personal protective equipment can help prevent hospital infections.