Core components for effective infection prevention and control programmes: new WHO evidence-based recommendations

Health care-associated infections (HAI) are a major public health problem with a significant impact on morbidity, mortality and quality of life. They represent also an important economic burden to health systems worldwide. However, a large proportion of HAI are preventable through effective infectio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antimicrobial resistance & infection control 2017-01, Vol.6 (1), p.6-6, Article 6
Main Authors: Storr, Julie, Twyman, Anthony, Zingg, Walter, Damani, Nizam, Kilpatrick, Claire, Reilly, Jacqui, Price, Lesley, Egger, Matthias, Grayson, M Lindsay, Kelley, Edward, Allegranzi, Benedetta
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antimicrobial resistance
Control
Guidelines
HAI
Hand hygiene
Infection
Infection prevention and control
IPC guideline
IPC programmes
Prevention
Wellness programs
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Summary:Health care-associated infections (HAI) are a major public health problem with a significant impact on morbidity, mortality and quality of life. They represent also an important economic burden to health systems worldwide. However, a large proportion of HAI are preventable through effective infection prevention and control (IPC) measures. Improvements in IPC at the national and facility level are critical for the successful containment of antimicrobial resistance and the prevention of HAI, including outbreaks of highly transmissible diseases through high quality care within the context of universal health coverage. Given the limited availability of IPC evidence-based guidance and standards, the World Health Organization (WHO) decided to prioritize the development of global recommendations on the core components of effective IPC programmes both at the national and acute health care facility level, based on systematic literature reviews and expert consensus. The aim of the guideline development process was to identify the evidence and evaluate its quality, consider patient values and preferences, resource implications, and the feasibility and acceptability of the recommendations. As a result, 11 recommendations and three good practice statements are presented here, including a summary of the supporting evidence, and form the substance of a new WHO IPC guideline.
ISSN:2047-2994
2047-2994
DOI:10.1186/s13756-016-0149-9