Baseline evaluation of the World Health Organization (WHO) infection prevention and control (IPC) core components in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs).

Publisher: BioMed Central Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101585411 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2047-2994 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 20472994 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Antimicrob Resist Infect Control Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: London : BioMed Central

World Health Organization* ; Infection Control*/methods ; Cross Infection*/prevention & control; Humans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Pacific Islands/epidemiology

Background: Comprehensive infection prevention and control (IPC) programmes are proven to reduce the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, published assessments of IPC programmes against the World Health Organization (WHO) IPC Core Components in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) at the national and acute healthcare facility level are currently unavailable.
Methods: From January 2022 to April 2023, a multi-country, cross-sectional study was conducted in PICTs. The self reporting survey was based on the WHO Infection Prevention Assessment Framework (IPCAF) that supports implementing the minimum requirements of the WHO eight core components of IPC programmes at both the national and facility level. The results were presented as a 'traffic light' (present, in progress, not present) matrix. Each PICT's overall status in achieving IPC core components was summarised using descriptive statistics.
Results: Fifteen PICTs participated in this study. Ten (67%) PICTs had national IPC programmes, supported mainly by IPC focal points (87%, n = 13), updated national IPC guidelines (80%, n = 12), IPC monitoring and feedback mechanisms (80%, n = 12), and waste management plans (87%, n = 13). Significant gaps were identified in education and training (20%, n = 3). Despite being a defined component in 67% (n = 10) of national IPC programmes, HAI surveillance and monitoring was the lowest scoring core component (13%, n = 2). National and facility level IPC guidelines had been adapted and implemented in 67% (n = 10) PICTs; however, only 40% (n = 6) of PICTs had a dedicated IPC budget, 40% (n = 6) had multimodal strategies for IPC, and 33% (n = 5) had daily environmental cleaning records.
Conclusions: Identifying IPC strengths, gaps, and challenges across PICTs will inform future IPC programme priorities and contribute to regional efforts in strengthening IPC capacity. This will promote global public health through the prevention of HAIs and AMR.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)

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Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Healthcare-associated infections; Infection prevention and control; Low- and middle-income countries; WHO IPC core components

Date Created: 20240928 Date Completed: 20240928 Latest Revision: 20240930

20240930

PMC11437787

10.1186/s13756-024-01447-9

39334478