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Multicenter Study
. 2025 Aug 29:13:1642119.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1642119. eCollection 2025.

Evaluating infection prevention and control programs in Zambian hospitals using the WHO infection prevention and control assessment framework tool

Steward Mudenda  1   2   3 , Joseph Yamweka Chizimu  1 , Linus Ndegwa  4 , Maisa Kasanga  1   5 , Ilunga Mutwale  1   6 , Aubrey Chichonyi Kalungia  1   2 , Evelyn Wesangula  7 , Adriano Focus Lubanga  8   9 , James C L Mwansa  10 , Martha Mwaba  11   12 , Amos Yared Massele  13 , Nyambe Sinyange  1 , Tapfumanei Mashe  14 , Malambo Mutila  1 , Paul Simujayang'ombe  1 , David Lowrance  15 , Kaunda Yamba  16 , Misheck Shawa  17 , Chie Nakajima  18 , Yasuhiko Suzuki  18 , John Bwalya Muma  19 , Massimo Sartelli  20 , Brian Godman  21   22   23 , Roma Chilengi  1
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Evaluating infection prevention and control programs in Zambian hospitals using the WHO infection prevention and control assessment framework tool

Steward Mudenda et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) is key to preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study evaluated the implementation of IPC in Zambian hospitals.

Materials and methods: We conducted a multicentric cross-sectional study in nine hospitals across Zambia using the WHO IPCAF tool. Data were collected from September 1 to 30, 2024 and analyzed using the self-scoring Excel and IBM SPSS version 25.0.

Results: Out of the nine hospitals assessed, four were tertiary-level hospitals while the rest were secondary-level hospitals. Overall, the implementation of IPC core components was intermediate (IPCAF Score of 594 out of 800). Four hospitals had IPCAF scores between 401 and 600, indicating an intermediate level of IPC implementation. Five hospitals scored between 601 and 800, indicating an advanced implementation of IPC in these hospitals. Three tertiary hospitals scored between 601 and 800, demonstrating their advanced implementation of IPC core components.

Conclusion: This study found that the overall implementation of IPC in the surveyed hospitals was intermediate, indicating that further improvements were needed. There is a need to provide peer-learning support and strengthen IPC implementation to respond to new or re-emerging infections and AMR in the country and beyond.

Keywords: IPCAF; Zambia; antimicrobial resistance; healthcare-associated infections; infection prevention and control.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of Zambia indicating the IPC assessment study sites.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of IPCAF scores based on the surveyed hospitals.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Percentage scores on implementation of IPC core component across the surveyed hospitals.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Overall IPCAF scores by hospital.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Summary of IPCAF levels of the nine hospitals included in the survey.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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