Dataset Information

Achieving Minimum Standards for Infection Prevention and Control in Sierra Leone: Urgent Need for a Quantum Leap in Progress in the COVID-19 Era!

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Good Infection prevention and control (IPC) is vital for tackling antimicrobial resistance and limiting health care-associated infections. We compared IPC performance before (2019) and during the COVID-19 (2021) era at the national IPC unit and all regional (4) and district hospitals (8) in Sierra Leone.

Methods

Cross-sectional assessments using standardized World Health Organizations IPC checklists. IPC performance scores were graded as inadequate = 0-25%, basic = 25.1-50%, intermediate = 50.1-75%, and advanced = 75.1-100%.

Results

Overall performance improved from 'basic' to 'intermediate' at the national IPC unit (41% in 2019 to 58% in 2021) and at regional hospitals (37% in 2019 to 54% in 2021) but remained 'basic' at district hospitals (37% in 2019 to 50% in 2021). Priority gaps at the national IPC unit included lack of: a dedicated IPC budget, monitoring the effectiveness of IPC trainings and health care-associated infection surveillance. Gaps at hospitals included no assessment of hospital staffing needs, inadequate infrastructure for IPC and lack of a well-defined monitoring plan with clear goals, targets and activities.

Conclusion

Although there is encouraging progress in IPC performance, it is slower than desired in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is urgent need to mobilize political will, leadership and resources and make a quantum leap forward.

SUBMITTER: Fofanah BD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9102022 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Achieving Minimum Standards for Infection Prevention and Control in Sierra Leone: Urgent Need for a Quantum Leap in Progress in the COVID-19 Era!

Fofanah Bobson Derrick BD Abrahamyan Arpine A Maruta Anna A Kallon Christiana C Thekkur Pruthu P Kamara Ibrahim Franklyn IF Njuguna Charles Kuria CK Squire James Sylvester JS Kanu Joseph Sam JS Bah Abdulai Jawo AJ Lakoh Sulaiman S Kamara Dauda D Hermans Veerle V Zachariah Rony R

International journal of environmental research and public health 20220506 9

<h4>Introduction</h4>Good Infection prevention and control (IPC) is vital for tackling antimicrobial resistance and limiting health care-associated infections. We compared IPC performance before (2019) and during the COVID-19 (2021) era at the national IPC unit and all regional (4) and district hospitals (8) in Sierra Leone.<h4>Methods</h4>Cross-sectional assessments using standardized World Health Organizations IPC checklists. IPC performance scores were graded as inadequate = 0-25%, basic = 25 ...[more]

PMID: 35565037

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Dataset Information

Achieving Minimum Standards for Infection Prevention and Control in Sierra Leone: Urgent Need for a Quantum Leap in Progress in the COVID-19 Era!

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Achieving Minimum Standards for Infection Prevention and Control in Sierra Leone: Urgent Need for a Quantum Leap in Progress in the COVID-19 Era!

Similar Datasets

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