The case for investment and action in infection prevention and control
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World Health Organization
Abstract
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23 p.
Infections acquired during health care delivery, including those caused by antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, represent a major and largely preventable burden for patients, health workers and health systems worldwide. This investment case presents the evidence supporting infection prevention and control (IPC) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) as essential components of safe, high-quality health care. Drawing on WHO and OECD analyses, the document describes the health, social and economic consequences of health care-associated infections and demonstrates how effective IPC programmes can reduce morbidity, mortality, antimicrobial resistance and health-care costs. It highlights the role of evidence-based interventions, including hand hygiene, environmental hygiene, surveillance, education and multimodal improvement strategies, supported by adequate infrastructure and WASH services. The publication also outlines WHO’s leadership in advancing IPC globally and presents the policy framework established through the WHO Global Strategy on Infection Prevention and Control and the 2024–2030 Global Action Plan and Monitoring Framework. It identifies persistent implementation gaps at national and facility levels, defines priority actions and targets for countries, and emphasizes the need for sustained investment, political commitment, coordination and international support. The document argues that strengthening IPC is critical to achieving safer health care, reducing antimicrobial resistance, advancing universal health coverage and supporting broader global health and sustainable development goals.
Infections acquired during health care delivery, including those caused by antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, represent a major and largely preventable burden for patients, health workers and health systems worldwide. This investment case presents the evidence supporting infection prevention and control (IPC) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) as essential components of safe, high-quality health care. Drawing on WHO and OECD analyses, the document describes the health, social and economic consequences of health care-associated infections and demonstrates how effective IPC programmes can reduce morbidity, mortality, antimicrobial resistance and health-care costs. It highlights the role of evidence-based interventions, including hand hygiene, environmental hygiene, surveillance, education and multimodal improvement strategies, supported by adequate infrastructure and WASH services. The publication also outlines WHO’s leadership in advancing IPC globally and presents the policy framework established through the WHO Global Strategy on Infection Prevention and Control and the 2024–2030 Global Action Plan and Monitoring Framework. It identifies persistent implementation gaps at national and facility levels, defines priority actions and targets for countries, and emphasizes the need for sustained investment, political commitment, coordination and international support. The document argues that strengthening IPC is critical to achieving safer health care, reducing antimicrobial resistance, advancing universal health coverage and supporting broader global health and sustainable development goals.
Keywords
Infection Control, Cross Infection, Disinfection, Sanitation, Water, Hygiene, Hand Hygiene, Patient Care, Personal Protective Equipment, Health Facilities, Delivery of Health Care, Investments, Cost Savings, World Health Organization, Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, prevention and control, statistics and numerical data