The Sisyphean Task of Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) occupy a unique position in the field of patient and health workers’ safety and quality of care, as it is universally relevant to every health worker and patient, in every healthcare interaction. IPC is a proven approach to preventing the transmission of infectious hazards, but applying it requires programmatic institutional, financial, and knowledge support. Effective IPC requires constant action at all levels of the health system, from policy-makers to facility managers, health workers, and other relevant stakeholders, as well as all those who access health services, and their family members. IPC is also a cornerstone of health system resiliency and preparedness. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of protecting health workers and patients through IPC and the central role of healthcare facilities in the control of emerging infectious diseases. Evidence-based hierarchy related to hand hygiene has proved that this is the only panacea and infallible approach to preventing the spread of infection. As in the COVID-19 pandemic also hand hygiene response efforts and strategies have created an unprecedented moment in time.