ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WHO INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL CORE COMPONENTS IN KAZAKHSTAN: FINDINGS...

Infection prevention and control (IPC) is crucial for ensuring patient safety and healthcare quality. In Kazakhstan, thorough assessments of IPC capacity remain limited due to the scarce use of standardized international tools. This study examined the readiness of IPC systems in selected healthcare facilities, utilizing the WHO Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Framework (IPCAF).

The research involved a cross-sectional assessment conducted in four healthcare facilities. The WHO IPCAF tool from 2018 was employed to evaluate eight essential IPC components. Each facility collectively completed the questionnaire with a team of IPC specialists, including epidemiologists, infection control practitioners, and quality managers. IPCAF scores were grouped into basic (201-400), intermediate (401-600), and advanced (over 600) categories.

The assessment revealed that IPC capacity differed among the four facilities. Two facilities reached an intermediate IPC level, while the other two were at a basic level. No facility was classified as advanced. The strongest areas were identified in CC8, focusing on infrastructure, materials, and equipment, and CC3, which centered on training and education. The weakest results appeared in CC1 (IPC program) and CC6 (monitoring, audit, and feedback). Moderate performance in CC4 (HAI surveillance) and CC5 (multimodal strategies) indicated partial readiness but also highlighted operational and diagnostic challenges.

The study's conclusions reveal that basic IPC foundations are set in several facilities, yet significant gaps remain in governance, monitoring, and surveillance. These insights underline the necessity for stronger leadership, sustained financing, improved microbiological capabilities, and systematic implementation of multimodal IPC strategies. This research provides key baseline evidence to bolster national efforts to reinforce IPC systems in Kazakhstan.