Infection prevention and control
No one should get an infection while providing or receiving health care. Yet, healthcare-associated infections are among the most frequent adverse events occurring in the context of health service delivery. WHO estimates that 1 in 10 patients get an infection while receiving care. These infections, many of which are caused by multidrug-resistant organisms, harm patients, visitors and health workers, and place a significant burden on health systems, including the associated increased costs.
By ensuring standard precautions for infection prevention and control (IPC) in health-care facilities, such as hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, waste management, and prevention of needle-stick or sharps injuries, 35–70% of health care-associated infections could be prevented.
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has concretely demonstrated how critical infection prevention and control, including immunization, mask wearing, physical distancing and proper ventilation, is to maintaining essential health services and ensuring patient and health worker safety.
Strong IPC programmes with empowered and well-trained IPC focal points are necessary to providing quality health services to patients across the Western Pacific and preventing avoidable infections.
WHO in the Western Pacific is supporting Member States in identifying the barriers to strong infection prevention and control programmes in countries, and providing strategic recommendations to support healthcare facilities to take a grounds-up approach in strengthening IPC compliance, reducing healthcare-associated infection risks, and improving the environment for all health workers to take action at each step of health care delivery.
Strong IPC programmes are critical to improving quality of care, strengthening health systems, achieving Universal Health Coverage, and tackling future outbreaks, pandemics and emerging diseases.