Introduction

Infection prevention and control (IPC) is the mainstay of the healthcare system, especially in the contemporary era of infectious diseases, which concerns both patients and healthcare workers. The routine training of healthcare staff regarding IPC practices has been quite challenging in public sector hospitals of developing countries for quite a few reasons, which became even more difficult in the days of COVID-19 when it was not suitable to gather healthcare workers for training purposes. At that time, it was realized that there must be some way to ensure the access and all-time availability of basic IPC guidelines to all the HCWs, which they may reach out to as per their point of care needs.
The IPC team of Lahore General Hospital developed the infection prevention and control mobile application (named IPC Guidelines) to carry out the concept, and made an effort to compile all the basic concepts of infection prevention and control guidelines, taken from various authentic sources (CDC, NHSN, WHO, IPC manual by Dr. Nizam Damani and others), at one place.
This mobile application is easily downloadable, user-friendly, and an attempt to provide access to fundamental IPC principles in a precise way.
The Lahore General Hospital forum tends to make it a service for the struggling healthcare system of Pakistan and other developing countries.
We intend to update this mobile App from time to time, with evolving infectious diseases and IPC practices. We will welcome the comments and suggestions of the users which may help improve it further.

Dr. Amina Asif
MBBS, M.Phil (Microbiology), Ph.D. Scholar
Assistant Professor of Pathology
Focal person, IPC Committee
PGMI/LGH/AMC

Message by the Principal

The healthcare facilities, especially the public sector hospitals, in underdeveloped nations are inadequately equipped, and the burden of healthcare-associated infections (HCAls) makes matters worse. The importance of infection prevention and control cannot be denied especially after the world had seen the worst pandemic of COVID-19, and other infectious diseases one after the other.The knowledge and comprehension of the core IPC practices are the ultimate need of the hour. The subject is very broad. Therefore, it is imperative to present certain key ideas in a way that is simple to access and comprehend.
I appreciate the team of Lahore General Hospital for coming up with the concept for this infection prevention and control mobile application in the hopes that it will be a helpful resource for medical professionals, nurses, paramedics, housekeeping staff, and anyone interested to learn and understand the fundamentals of IPC practices.

Muhammad Farooq Afzal
MBBS, MD, FCPS,FACS,MCPS (HPE), MBA(USA)
Fellow in Advanced Laparoscopic & Bariatric Surgery (USA)
Professor Of Surgery, PGMI/AMC/LGH LAHORE

Message by the Medical Superintendent

Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.

It gives me great pleasure to write this message on the occasion of the launch of a mobile application for infection prevention and control guidelines. This is a commendable initiative by the MSDS and infection control department of Lahore General Hospital, as it will benefit not only health care personnel but the general population as well. All crucial components, such as hand hygiene and personal protective measures, have been addressed clearly and succinctly. Furthermore, the use of illustrations to express all crucial and necessary information adds clarity to the material.

Prof. Faryad Hussain
MBBS, FCPS (Pediatrics), PGPN (Boston University, USA)
Professor of Pediatric Medicine
Head, Pediatric Unit-II & Pediatric Pulmonology

Message by the Dr.Nizam Damani

IPC Expert, Senior Consultant WHO

According to the recent World Health Organisation report, it has been estimated that out of 100 patients hospitalized, seven will be infected with healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and the risk of acquiring HAI is up to 20 times higher in low- and middle-income countries. In addition, deaths are increased two to threefold when infections are resistant to antimicrobials. This is an underestimate due to the lack of surveillance in most healthcare facilities. HAls not only drain valuable health service resources in terms of additional costs but also have an impact on the length of stay in the hospital as well as additional nursing and medical time. In addition, especially in low- and middle-income countries, the cost and impact of Hals to individuals and their families can be devastating due to loss of income, indirect cost, and burden to family members in terms of time lost from work in caring for the affected individual. The Covid -19 pandemic shows that both patients and health workers can be at high risk of being infected with SARS-CoV-2 during health care delivery and need to be protected. Therefore, the implementation of effective Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) is now a major priority on a global basis. Unfortunately, due to various reasons, implementation of even basic IPC practices can be challenging, especially in low- and middle-income countries. I am delighted that Dr. Amina Asif and the MSDS department have developed the IPC App for Lahore General Hospital, Pakistan. This is a major achievement because the App is simple to use and is also available in Urdu. It is available on mobile devices which allows not only easy accessibility to implement good IPC practice at the point of care by health workers but also helps update IPC guidelines and procedures regularly. To ease implementation, IPC procedures are illustrated using images based on local guidelines. I am confident that the availability of the IPC App supplemented by teaching and practical training in IPC will help the hospital to implement good IPC practices at the point of care and will not only reduce HAIs but also help protect health workers and visitors from other infections.

Prof. Nizam Damani
MBBS, MSc, FRCPath., FRCPI, CIC, DipHIC

Contributions

Dr. Amina Asif (Lead Facilitator)
MBBS, M.Phil (Microbiology), CMT (UHS), Ph.D. Scholar
Assistant Professor of Pathology
Focal Person Infection Control Committee
PGMI/ LGH/AMC, Lahore


Prof. Dr. Farooq Afzal
MBBS, MD (USA), FCPS, FRCS (UK), FACS, MHPE
Ex-Professor and Head Department of Surgery
PGMI/LGH/AMC, Lahore


Prof. Dr. Ghias-un-Nabi Tayyab
MBBS, MD (USA), FCPS Internal Medicine, MRCP (UK), FRCP(EDIN), AGAF(USA)
Head Department of Medicine
PGMI/LGH/AMC, Lahore


Prof. Dr. Jodat Saleem
MBBS, MCPS, FCPS Anesthesia
Head Department of Anesthesia, ICU and Pain Management
In charge, Infection Control Committee
PGMI/LGH/AMC, Lahore


Dr. Muhammad Irfan Malik
MBBS, FCPS Pulmonology, FRCP (Glasg), CMT (UHS)
Associate Professor of Pulmonology
In charge MSDS program
PGMI/LGH/AMC


Dr. Ahmad Naeem
MBBS, MS Surgery, CMT (UHS)
Assistant Professor of Surgery
PGMI/LGH/AMC, Lahore


Sister Nazneen
Head sister MSDS and IPC department,
LGH, Lahore


Muhammad Hussnain
In charge CSSD dept.
LGH, Lahore

IPC Staff Nurses
LGH, Lahore