Abstract:

Infection prevention and control (IPC) is essential for the prevention of health care-associated infections (HAIs) in healthcare facilities (HFs). The World Health Organization (WHO) published eight core components (CCs) of IPC to guide IPC program implementation in HFs. WHO developed the IPC Assessment Framework (IPCAF) tool to assess levels of IPC program implementation and identify areas for improvement in HFs. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Nov 2024 using the IPCAF tool by extracting data from June 2022 IPCAF reports of 45 HFs in Rohingya refugee camps. Conducted descriptive analysis using SPSS 29 for each CC, total IPC scores per HF and level of IPC promotion and practices obtained. No HFs scored as inadequate or basic, and 24% scored as intermediate level, while 76% scored as having an advanced level of IPC. 78% of the HFs had an IPC program, 100% had standard precaution guidelines, 98% had the capacity to lead IPC training; however, none conducted HAIs surveillance. 100% of the HFs followed the multimodal strategy for IPC, and 100% have a clear monitoring plan for IPC activities. 88% of HFs had appropriate staffing, workload, and 100% had 1 patient to 1 bed standard, while 91% of HFs had functional hand hygiene stations at all points of care. The HFs in the Rohingya refugee camps fully implemented IPC programs in 2022, except for one core component (surveillance of HAIs). Interventions aimed at incorporating surveillance of HAIs into IPC programs in HFs in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps should be explored.

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