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Strengthening Infection
Prevention and Control in
Primary Care: A collection of
existing standards, measurement
and implementation resources
Julie Storr, IPC Hub team, October 2021

WHO IPC Hub 2021

Introduction
• IPC in primary care: The COVID-19
pandemic and other outbreaks have shown
that preventing the spread of infections and
AMR at the first point of entry of the patient
journey into the health system (which is
usually through primary care level) is critical.
• The scale of the problem: Emerging data
(IPCAF) reinforces the poor state of IPC in
primary care.

• PRIMARY CARE: 601 (435-699.4)*

WHO 2019 Global Survey: IPC Assessment
Framework (IPCAF) at Facility Level. 4440
facilities, 81 countries
N.B. WHO confidential unpublished data
• SECONDARY CARE : 562.5 (462.5-657.5)
• TERTIARY CARE : 660 (515-727.5)
• OTHER: 712.5 (637.5-762.5)
• The average score was significantly higher in tertiary than in primary care
facilities in the weighted multivariable regression analysis
• 0% of the facilities met all IPC minimum requirements in LICs; only 26% of PHC
facilities in HICs.

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Operational Framework for
Primary Care

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240017832
What the Framework says about
Infection prevention & control (IPC):

• (IPC is) the foundation of quality care;

• Health care facilities .. should meet national standards and be
regularly maintained with enough skilled staff to keep them functioning
and clean;
• A clean and safe environment is … essential to maintain the health of
the health workforce as well as the broader population;
• Without such standards patients are placed at higher risk of acquiring
infections while seeking care…
• … resulting in infections that are more difficult and expensive to treat,
and, in some cases, can contribute to antimicrobial resistance;
• …the cleanliness of facilities and the availability and functionality of
specific services, such as toilets and drinking water, have an impact on
those seeking care and patient satisfaction.
 A Toolkit of resources

Introduction to the two new resources

 1
IPC in Primary Care: A collection of
existing standards, measurement
and implementation resources

• A resource to support those working

in primary care to strengthen infection
prevention and control (IPC)
• Informed by existing IPC guidance &
implementation resources.

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240035249
Purpose of the document
Target audiences
Part A: Standards & measurement
Recap: the core components of
an IPC programme

https://www.who.int/teams/integrated-health-services/infection-prevention-control
At least the IPC Minimum
Requirements must be in place

https://www.who.int/teams/integrated-health-services/infection-prevention-control
Part A: what it looks like:

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Part A: the what, who, how and
why of each minimum requirement
Part B: Implementation resources
Interim practical manual
• Section based on the “implementation
manual”

• Introduces the reader to some of the

general implementation principles contained
within this practical manual, including the
WHO multimodal implementation strategy

• The reader is advised to consult the

implementation manual for a
comprehensive outline of how to implement
IPC programmes.

• Presents a summary of the content of the

implementation manual and signposts the
reader to content that might be of interest.
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/279788
Hand hygiene guide for outpatient
and long term care

• The hand hygiene guide provides

background evidence and practical
examples of the application of hand hygiene
principles in situations occurring frequently
outside of secondary and tertiary care
settings.

• This section summarizes key principles

from this source document relevant to
primary care and presents a selection of
primary care-related examples to support
implementation of the WHO Five Moments
approach.

• Presents a summary of the content of the

hand hygiene guide and signposts the
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/78060
reader to content that might be of interest.
Resource considerations

• The Resource considerations document

presents the resources needed for investing
in hand hygiene improvement at each level
of the health system using the MMIS
approach.

• This section extracts key content from this

document to support those involved in
developing and implementation of hand
hygiene improvement in primary care.

• For ease, Table 3.5 presents a summary of

the content of the source document and
signposts the reader to content that might
be of interest.

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240025882
 2
Infection prevention and control
in primary care:
a toolkit of resources

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• A resource that brings together in one

place a number of tools and
resources from WHO and other
organizations, with a focus on those
most relevant to primary care.
• These tools and resources have been
A Toolkit of resources compiled to support facility-level
implementation in line with the
multimodal approach.
About the Toolkit?
• A list of tools and resources falling under five
categories:
IPC IN PRIMARY 1. Communications and advocacy tools
2. Guidance materials
CARE TOOLKIT 3. Implementation manuals and
resources
4. Measurement tools
5. Training and education resources
• Provides a synthesis of key information on
each tool/resource to support decision
making
• Not an exhaustive list
• It will be updated over time as more tools and
resources are identified and shared
• The primary target audience is the IPC focal
person or team with responsibility for driving
the development and practical
implementation of IPC in primary care.
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What it looks like

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What it looks like

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WHO Infection Prevention and Control
Technical & Clinical Hub

Thank you

Learn more at:

https://www.who.int/infection-prevention/en/