Infection prevention and control health-care facility response for COVID-19

Overview

Use and content

This self-assessment tool is designed for acute health-care facilities (i.e. tertiary and secondary) but can be modified for the use in long-term care facilities, to help identify, prioritize and address the gaps in infection prevention and control (IPC) capacity in managing their response to COVID‑19. The tool should be used by IPC professionals and/or those responsible for disaster planning or outbreak management in the facility (such as the response to the COVID‑19 outbreak) at the start of the improvement process. A sample workplan template is provided to address gaps identified and record required actions. Repeat assessments are recommended (i.e. once a month), in order to correct actions and maintain an adequate response to the COVID‑19 outbreak.

This assessment tool covers the following aspects:

• IPC programmes;
• IPC guidelines and standard operating procedures;
• IPC training and monitoring;
• screening, triage, early recognition and testing of COVID‑19;
• built environment, infrastructure and supplies;
• visitors; and
• maintaining IPC interventions.

  Target audiences

  The tool is primarily intended to be self-administered (i.e. a self-assessment tool), but it can also be used for joint assessments, through careful discussions between external assessors (for example, from the ministry of health, WHO or other stakeholders) and facility staff, IPC professionals and/or facility managers.

  Key questions this module helps to answer

  The self-assessment tool is intended to answer the following key questions:

• Do facilities have a minimum IPC programme or focal point assisting in their COVID‑19 response?
• Are facilities adequately equipped with critical IPC supplies and infrastructure to support a robust COVID‑19 response or resurgence?
• Are facilities providing baseline IPC training in standard precautions and COVID‑19-related guidelines and protocols as per international guidance?
• Are facilities performing IPC monitoring of COVID‑19 infections in patients/residents, residents and staff?
• Do facilities have appropriate flow and visitor restrictions in place?

When to use

This module should be used as part of preparedness and/or response.