Guidelines on core components of infection prevention and control programmes at the national and acute health care facility level

Introduction

Health care-associated infections (HAI) are one of the most common adverse events in care delivery and a major public health problem with an impact on morbidity, mortality and quality of life. At any one time, up to 7% of patients in developed and 10% in developing countries will acquire at least one HAI. These infections also present a significant economic burden at the societal level. However, a large percentage of HAI are preventable through effective infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.