Improvement in infection prevention and control performance following operational research in sierra leone: A before (2021) and after (2023) study

• Published in: Tropical medicine and infectious disease Vol. 8; no. 7; pp. 1 - 31
• Main Authors: Margao, Senesie, Fofanah, Bobson Derrick, Thekkur, Pruthu, Kallon, Christiana, Ngauja, Ramatu Elizabeth, Kamara, Ibrahim Franklyn, Kamara, Rugiatu Zainab, Tengbe, Sia Morenike, Moiwo, Matilda, Musoke, Robert, Fullah, Mary, Kanu, Joseph Sam, Lakoh, Sulaiman, Kpagoi, Satta Sylvia T K, Kamara, Kadijatu Nabie, Thomas, Fawzi, Mannah, Margaret Titty, Katawera, Victoria, Zachariah, Rony
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland MDPI 23-07-2023; MDPI AG
• Subjects: Antimicrobial agents; antimicrobial resistance; Control; core components; COVID-19; Developing countries; Disease prevention; Disease transmission; Drug resistance; Ebola virus; Elevator pitch; Epidemics; health care-associated infections; Health facilities; Hospitals; Infection; Infections; Infectious diseases; Influenza; IPCAF; IPCAT; LDCs; Operations research; Pandemics; Prevention; Public health; Quality control; Sanitation; WASH; World Health Organization; Liberia; Sierra Leone; SORT IT; IPCAT; antimicrobial resistance; health care-associated infections; universal health coverage; WASH; operational research; core components; IPCAF; quality of care
• ISSN: 2414-6366; 2414-6366
• DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8070376

Introduction: Infection prevention and control (IPC) is crucial to limit health care-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance. An operational research study conducted in Sierra Leone in 2021 reported sub-optimal IPC performance and provided actionable recommendations for improvement. Methods: This was a before-and-after study involving the national IPC unit and all twelve district-level secondary public hospitals. IPC performance in 2021 (before) and in 2023 (after) was assessed using standardized World Health Organization checklists. IPC performance was graded as: inadequate (0-25%), basic (25.1-50%), intermediate (50.1-75%), and advanced (75.1-100%). Results: The overall IPC performance in the national IPC unit moved from intermediate (58%) to advanced (78%), with improvements in all six core components. Four out of six components achieved advanced levels when compared to the 2021 levels. The median score for hospitals moved from basic (50%) to intermediate (59%), with improvements in six of eight components. Three of four gaps identified in 2021 at the national IPC unit and four of seven at hospitals had been addressed by 2023. Conclusions: The study highlights the role of operational research in informing actions that improved IPC performance. There is a need to embed operational research as part of the routine monitoring of IPC programs.