Infection prevention and control staffing and programs in Middle Eastern Countries

Introduction: Infection prevention and control (IPC) programs in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries are evolving. The objective was to characterize IPC personnel and programs in MENA countries, with special emphasis on the differences between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and no...

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Main Authors: Elias Tannous, Aiman El-Saed, Kholoud Ameer, Abeer Khalaf, Shafi Mohammad, Basel Molaeb, Majid M Alshamrani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2022-05-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/15504
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author Elias Tannous
Aiman El-Saed
Kholoud Ameer
Abeer Khalaf
Shafi Mohammad
Basel Molaeb
Majid M Alshamrani
author_facet Elias Tannous
Aiman El-Saed
Kholoud Ameer
Abeer Khalaf
Shafi Mohammad
Basel Molaeb
Majid M Alshamrani
author_sort Elias Tannous
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Infection prevention and control (IPC) programs in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries are evolving. The objective was to characterize IPC personnel and programs in MENA countries, with special emphasis on the differences between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and non-GCC countries. Methodology: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in 2019 among IPC members of the Arab Countries Infection Control Network (AcicN). The survey focused on three domains; demographic and professional characteristics, organizational structure, and IPC program characteristics. Results: A total of 269 participants aged 39.9 ± 8.4 years were included in the study. Majority of the participants were females (67.7%), nurses (63.7%), and of Middle-Eastern origin (57.3%). 32.2% of the participants were certified by the Certification Board of Infection Control (CBIC). Only 22.7% of participants were satisfied with their current compensation. Surveillance was the most time-consuming task (26.6%), followed by isolation (12.4%), and investigation of outbreaks (12.1%). Majority of the facilities had at least one IPC personnel per 100 beds (60.9%), supported IPC program (63.9%), a formal IPC committee (93.7%), and an IPC plan (91.4%). Compared with non-GCC countries, GCC countries had significantly more frequent CBIC certification (p = 0.003), training in cleaning/sterilization (p = 0.010), supported IPC program (p = 0.010), formal IPC committee (p = 0.001), IPC plan (p = 0.001), and higher number of IPC personnel per 100 beds (p = 0.047). Conclusions: MENA countries had generally satisfactory IPC programs and to a lesser extent staffing, with considerable variability between countries with different resources.
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spelling doaj-art-0b2806f17bdf417e9ccedc21a6504caf2025-08-20T02:27:11ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802022-05-01160510.3855/jidc.15504Infection prevention and control staffing and programs in Middle Eastern CountriesElias Tannous0Aiman El-Saed1Kholoud Ameer2Abeer Khalaf3Shafi Mohammad4Basel Molaeb5Majid M Alshamrani6Infection Prevention and Control, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesInfection Prevention and Control Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaInfection Prevention and Control Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaThe Arab Countries Infection Control Network (AcicN)Infection Prevention and Control, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesThe Arab Countries Infection Control Network (AcicN)Infection Prevention and Control Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Introduction: Infection prevention and control (IPC) programs in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries are evolving. The objective was to characterize IPC personnel and programs in MENA countries, with special emphasis on the differences between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and non-GCC countries. Methodology: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in 2019 among IPC members of the Arab Countries Infection Control Network (AcicN). The survey focused on three domains; demographic and professional characteristics, organizational structure, and IPC program characteristics. Results: A total of 269 participants aged 39.9 ± 8.4 years were included in the study. Majority of the participants were females (67.7%), nurses (63.7%), and of Middle-Eastern origin (57.3%). 32.2% of the participants were certified by the Certification Board of Infection Control (CBIC). Only 22.7% of participants were satisfied with their current compensation. Surveillance was the most time-consuming task (26.6%), followed by isolation (12.4%), and investigation of outbreaks (12.1%). Majority of the facilities had at least one IPC personnel per 100 beds (60.9%), supported IPC program (63.9%), a formal IPC committee (93.7%), and an IPC plan (91.4%). Compared with non-GCC countries, GCC countries had significantly more frequent CBIC certification (p = 0.003), training in cleaning/sterilization (p = 0.010), supported IPC program (p = 0.010), formal IPC committee (p = 0.001), IPC plan (p = 0.001), and higher number of IPC personnel per 100 beds (p = 0.047). Conclusions: MENA countries had generally satisfactory IPC programs and to a lesser extent staffing, with considerable variability between countries with different resources. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/15504Infection controlprogramstaffhealthcaretrainingMENA
spellingShingle Elias Tannous
Aiman El-Saed
Kholoud Ameer
Abeer Khalaf
Shafi Mohammad
Basel Molaeb
Majid M Alshamrani
Infection prevention and control staffing and programs in Middle Eastern Countries
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Infection control
program
staff
healthcare
training
MENA
title Infection prevention and control staffing and programs in Middle Eastern Countries
title_full Infection prevention and control staffing and programs in Middle Eastern Countries
title_fullStr Infection prevention and control staffing and programs in Middle Eastern Countries
title_full_unstemmed Infection prevention and control staffing and programs in Middle Eastern Countries
title_short Infection prevention and control staffing and programs in Middle Eastern Countries
title_sort infection prevention and control staffing and programs in middle eastern countries
topic Infection control
program
staff
healthcare
training
MENA
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/15504
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AT shafimohammad infectionpreventionandcontrolstaffingandprogramsinmiddleeasterncountries
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