New guidelines published by the World Health Organisation draw on the work of GCU SHIP research
An evidence review, commissioned by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and conducted by researchers from the Safeguarding Health through Infection Prevention (SHIP) research group at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), is part of a new set of global guidelines issued by WHO to support every country and healthcare facility developing infection prevention and control programmes.
What did we do?
We carried out a systematic review into the effectiveness of national-level infection prevention and control programmes. Dr Lesley Price and Professor Jacqui Reilly then presented this evidence to the International Guideline Development Committee in Geneva. This work is now included within WHO’s new Guidelines on Core Components of Infection Prevention and Control Programmes at the National and Acute Health Care Facility Level.
What are these guidelines about?
Professor Benedetta Allegranzi, the Coordinator of the Infection Prevention and Control Global Unit at WHO said, “These guidelines are the culmination of a year-long initiative which has seen the active support, collaboration and technical expert input of a range of organisations including the US Center for Disease Control and has brought together scientists, academics, policy makers and patient representatives to systematically consider the evidence and experiences on what makes infection prevention and control programmes work. They focus on eight critical areas for action (Infection Prevention and Control Programmes; Evidence Based Guidelines; Education and Training; Surveillance; Multimodal Strategies; Monitoring, Audit and Feedback; Workload, Staffing and Bed Occupancy and the Built Environment, Materials and Equipment) that if implemented will save lives in every country of the world”.
How will they be used?
These guidelines will be issued worldwide to promote strong, effective and evidence-based infection prevention and control programmes and practices forming a key part of the necessary strategies to prevent current and future infectious threats, including antimicrobial resistance and outbreaks of highly transmissible diseases such as Ebola. It is intended that they will support countries and health care facilities as they develop or strengthen their own approaches to infection prevention and control, including the development of AMR National Action Plans to combat antimicrobial resistance. Dr Lesley Price said: “Countries should adopt these guidelines to ensure that worldwide patients and members of the public directly benefit.”
Please click here to access the guidelines.