New ECDC guidance on the establishment and implementation of infection prevention and control programmes in healthcare

The ECDC has issued formal guidance for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) including respiratory virus infections. Influenza vaccination coverage of healthcare workers is proposed as "among the most relevant and potentially impactful indicators" of effective national Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programmes.

Recommended actions for countries:

• "Develop a national IPC action plan that clearly identifies responsible actors, defines priorities and actions, and allocates dedicated financial and human resources. 
• Implement monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for structure, process and outcome indicators for IPC, aligned with defined targets, to support continuous improvement of the IPC programme.
• Establish or strengthen HAI surveillance, a cornerstone of national IPC programmes. Progress toward digitalisation and automation should be embedded within legal frameworks, ensuring that healthcare facilities receive both financial and technological support to meet reporting requirements. National-level HAI data should be disseminated regularly and in a timely manner to relevant stakeholders, in line with the respective governance structure. 
• Adopt evidence-based technical IPC guidelines at the national level that outline actions for the prevention of HAIs and define national IPC standards to support the delivery of high-quality care. 
• Invest in financial and human resources to develop and sustain IPC training, both at the national level and within healthcare facilities, including partnership with higher education institutes to promote relevant research and continuous professional education."