Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are a significant burden globally, with millions of patients affected each year. These infections affect both high- and limited-resource healthcare settings, but in limited-resource settings, rates are approximately twice as high (15 out of every 100 patients versus 7 out of every 100 patients). Furthermore, infection rates within certain patient populations, including surgical patients, patients in intensive-care units (ICU) and neonatal units, are significantly higher in limited resource settings.
To be effective, environmental cleaning activities must be implemented within the framework of the facility IPC program, and not as a standalone intervention. It is also essential that IPC programs advocate for and work with facility administration and government officials to budget, and operate and maintain adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure to ensure that environmental cleaning can be performed according to best practices.
The ICAN Health Facility Process Indicators is designed to help institutions benchmark their heath facility processes with a view to improving services. The form is available for download here
