Table 2.

Core components for infection prevention and control at the national level

	National core components (WHO) [6]
1b	Active, standalone national IPC programs with clearly defined objectives, functions and activities should be established for the purpose of preventing HAI and combating AMR through IPC good practices. National IPC programmes should be linked with other relevant national programmes and professional organizations.
2	Evidence-based guidelines should be developed and implemented for the purpose of reducing HAI and AMR. Education and training of relevant healthcare workers on the guideline recommendations and the monitoring of adherence with guideline recommendations should be undertaken to achieve successful implementation.
3b	National IPC programs should support the education and training of the health workforce as one of its core functions.
4b	National HAI surveillance programs and networks including mechanisms for timely data feedback and with the potential to be used for benchmarking purposes should be established to reduce HAI and AMR.
5b	National IPC programs should coordinate and facilitate the implementation of IPC activities though multimodal strategies on a nationwide or sub-national level.
6b	National IPC monitoring and evaluation programs should be established to assess the extent to which standards are being met and activities are being performed according to the programs’ goals and objectives. Hand hygiene monitoring with feedback should be considered as a key performance indicator at the national level.

AMR, Antimicrobial resistance; HAI, Healthcare-associated infection; IPC, Infection prevention and control; WHO, World Health Organisation