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

Bobson Derrick Fofanah, Arpine Abrahamyan, Anna Maruta, Christiana Kallon, Pruthu Thekkur, Ibrahim Franklyn Kamara, Charles Kuria Njuguna, James Sylvester Squire, Joseph Sam Kanu, Abdulai Jawo Bah, Sulaiman Lakoh, Dauda Kamara, Veerle Hermans and Rony Zachariah
Additional contact information
Bobson Derrick Fofanah: World Health Organization Country Office, 21A-B Riverside Drive, Brookfields, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
Arpine Abrahamyan: Tuberculosis Research and Prevention Center (TBRPC), Yerevan 0014, Armenia
Anna Maruta: World Health Organization Country Office, 21A-B Riverside Drive, Brookfields, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
Christiana Kallon: National Infection Prevention and Control Coordinating Unit, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
Pruthu Thekkur: Centre for Operational Research, International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 75001 Paris, France
Ibrahim Franklyn Kamara: World Health Organization Country Office, 21A-B Riverside Drive, Brookfields, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
Charles Kuria Njuguna: World Health Organization Country Office, 21A-B Riverside Drive, Brookfields, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
James Sylvester Squire: Directorate of Health Security and Emergencies, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
Joseph Sam Kanu: Directorate of Health Security and Emergencies, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
Abdulai Jawo Bah: College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
Sulaiman Lakoh: College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
Dauda Kamara: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Program, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown 00232, Sierra Leone
Veerle Hermans: Médecins Sans Frontières, Operational Centre Brussels, 68, Rue de Gasperich, 1617 Luxembourg, Belgium
Rony Zachariah: UNICEF, UNDP, World Bank, WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-14

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.

Keywords: SORT IT; operational research; WASH; universal health coverage; IPCAT; IPCAF; Ebola; health care-associated infection; IPC programme (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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