Infection control practice: global preparedness for future challenges

The modern infection control profession emerged in the 1960s in England and the US in response to a pandemic of infections in hospitalized patients from a virulent strain of Staphylococcus aureus. The need for better patient care practices to prevent infections in this setting was evident, and the nursing, medical and microbiology professions responded. Both governmental and non-governmental agencies and professional organizations supported their efforts. During the past 3 decades infection control programs and professionals have multiplied and flourished throughout the world. At first, each country worked primarily within its own borders. In recent years collaboration among countries has increased dramatically, especially as related to education and training, research, and publishing. This article describes two examples of these partnerships. In the US, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc (APIC) have joined with the King Fahad National Guard Hospital (KFNGH), a center-of-excellence for infection control in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for educational meetings and infection control certification. The information exchanged and relationships developed through these activities will further efforts of both countries toward meeting infection prevention and control challenges of the future.