Assessment of Infection Prevention and Control Measures at Points of Entry in Sierra Leone in 2021: A Cross-Sectional Study

Kadijatu Nabie Kamara, James Sylvester Squire, Joseph Sam Kanu, Ronald Carshon-Marsh, Zikan Koroma, Aminata Tigiedankay Koroma, Anna Maruta, Christiana Kallon, Marcel Manzi, Bienvenu Salim Camara, Aelita Sargsyan, Alexandre Delamou, Jamie Ann Guth, Anthony Reid, Mohamed Ahmed Khogali and Mohamed Alex Vandi
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Kadijatu Nabie Kamara: National Disease Surveillance Programme, Directorate of Health Security and Emergencies (DHSE), Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), Cockerill, Wilkinson Road, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
James Sylvester Squire: National Disease Surveillance Programme, Directorate of Health Security and Emergencies (DHSE), Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), Cockerill, Wilkinson Road, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
Joseph Sam Kanu: National Disease Surveillance Programme, Directorate of Health Security and Emergencies (DHSE), Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), Cockerill, Wilkinson Road, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
Ronald Carshon-Marsh: National Malaria Control Progamme, MoHS, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
Zikan Koroma: Clinical Laboratories, Directorate of Laboratory and Blood Services, MoHS, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
Aminata Tigiedankay Koroma: National Disease Surveillance Programme, Directorate of Health Security and Emergencies (DHSE), Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), Cockerill, Wilkinson Road, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
Anna Maruta: IPC/AMR Team Lead, World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office, 21A/B Riverside Drive, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
Christiana Kallon: Infection Prevention and Control Unit, DHSE, MoHS, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
Marcel Manzi: Independent Researcher, 5000 Namur, Belgium
Bienvenu Salim Camara: Maferinyah National Research and Training Centre, Ministry of Health, Conakry BP 1147, Guinea
Aelita Sargsyan: Tuberculosis Research and Prevention Centre, 6/2 Adonts Str., 100 Apt., Yerevan 0014, Armenia
Alexandre Delamou: National Training and Research Centre in Rural Health, 01 Maferinyah, Forecariah BP 2649, Guinea
Jamie Ann Guth: Global Health Connections, Center Barnstead, Barnstead, NH 03225, USA
Anthony Reid: LuxOR, Operational Research Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, 68 rue Gasperich, L-1617 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Mohamed Ahmed Khogali: Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Mohamed Alex Vandi: DHSE, MoHS, Cockerill, Wilkinson Road, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-11

Abstract: Implementing and monitoring infection prevention and control (IPC) measures at immigration points of entry (PoEs) is key to preventing infections, reducing excessive use of antimicrobials, and tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Sierra Leone has been implementing IPC measures at four PoEs (Queen Elizabeth II Quay port, Lungi International Airport, and the Jendema and Gbalamuya ground crossings) since the last Ebola outbreak in 2014–2015. We adapted the World Health Organization IPC Assessment Framework tool to assess these measures and identify any gaps in their components at each PoE through a cross-sectional study in May 2021. IPC measures were Inadequate (0–25%) at Queen Elizabeth II Quay port (21%; 11/53) and Jendema (25%; 13/53) and Basic (26–50%) at Lungi International Airport (40%; 21/53) and Gbalamuya (49%; 26/53). IPC components with the highest scores were: having a referral system (85%; 17/20), cleaning and sanitation (63%; 15/24), and having a screening station (59%; 19/32). The lowest scores (0% each) were reported for the availability of IPC guidelines and monitoring of IPC practices. This was the first study in Sierra Leone highlighting significant gaps in the implementation of IPC measures at PoEs. We call on the AMR multisectoral coordinating committee to enhance IPC measures at all PoEs.

Keywords: infection prevention and control; points of entry; SORT IT (Structured Operational Research Training Initiative); Infection Prevention Control Assessment Framework (IPCAF); antimicrobial resistance; IPC at PoEs; Sierra Leone IPC; Sierra Leone PoEs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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