New report highlights need for sustained investment in infection prevention and control programs
A new global report on infection prevention and control (IPC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows there has been slow progress in addressing critical gaps to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
The report finds that though 71% of countries now have an active IPC program, just 6% met all of the WHO IPC minimum requirements in 2023-2024. This is well behind the target of more than 90% by 2030 set in the WHO Global action plan and monitoring framework on IPC. The report also highlights that patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have up to 20 times higher risk of acquiring infections during healthcare delivery than in high-income countries (HICs).
The report found that healthcare facilities face significant financial and resource challenges, including a lack of IPC professionals and budgets, especially in LMICs. Nearly a quarter of countries reported shortages in their supply of personal protective equipment in 2023.
New data from WHO and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimates that up to 3.5 million patients could die each year from HAIs without urgent action. Improving IPC measures at every level will help to reduce the number of deaths. The modelling estimated that IPC interventions at the point of care in health facilities, coordinated by Ministries of Health or established networks, could avert up to 821,000 deaths per year by 2050. Such an intervention would also yield annual savings in healthcare expenditure as high as US$ 112 billion and generate economic gains of up to US$ 124 billion.
