NOSO Strategy: reduce Hospital and nursing home infections
Reducing the number of hospital and nursing home infections – that is the goal of the National Strategy for the Monitoring, Prevention and Control of Healthcare-Associated Infections (NOSO Strategy).
Together against healthcare-associated infections
In Switzerland, 5.9 % of patients contract a hospital infection. Up to half those infections can be prevented through targeted measures. The Federal Government thus aims to better protect the population, i.e. to reduce the number of infections and associated long-term effects and deaths.
The NOSO Strategy Action Plan for Retirement and Nursing Homes was published in June 2025.
The reasons for a national strategy
Much has been done in the past to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). But what has been missing to date is
- a national system for monitoring the epidemiological situation and generally applicable;
- evidence-based standards for preventing and combating HAIs.
In addition, healthcare facilities need targeted support to ensure that the topic receives a higher priority in their everyday work. The NOSO Strategy provides the foundation for targeted and coordinated action. The Confederation, the cantons, hospitals and nursing homes as well as other important stakeholders implement the strategy jointly – for the only way we succeed in substantially and sustainably reducing hospital and nursing home infection is if all involved do their part.
At the national level, the implementation of the NOSO strategy contributes to the realisation of the Federal Council's health policy strategy 2020-2030, in particular to the goal of improving the quality of care.
For additional information on the NOSO Strategy, please see About the NOSO Strategy.
Further information
Overview
News on the NOSO Strategy
Here you’ll find the latest news on the NOSO Strategy.
About the NOSO Strategy
The NOSO Strategy aims to reduce the number of hospital and nursing home infections. It defines five priority areas, each with its own strategic objective and a bundle of key measures.
NOSO in hospitals
Many measures under the NOSO Strategy are geared to improving the situation in hospitals – which are hardest hit by healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The spectrum ranges from national databases on guidelines to concrete interventions to prevent HAIs.
NOSO in nursing homes
This is being implemented at homes to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
NOSO at the federal and cantonal levels
What are the cantonal and federal authorities doing to implement the NOSO Strategy?
The NOSO Strategy and its agencies
The implementation of the NOSO strategy can only be successful if all agencies are involved.
NOSO Strategy: FAQs
Here you can find answers to frequently asked questions about the NOSO strategy.
Further topics
National Immunisation Programme
The Confederation, together with the cantons and other stakeholders, has drawn up a National Immunisation Programme (NIP) with the aim of guaranteeing that the population is sufficiently protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Federal Office of Public Health FOPH
Infection Control and Control Measures Section
Schwarzenburgstrasse 157
Switzerland - 3003 Bern