Effectiveness of national and subnational interventions for prevention and control of health-care-associated infections in acute hospitals in high-income and upper-middle-income counties: a systematic review update

This systematic review, commissioned and funded by WHO, aimed to update a review of infection prevention and control (IPC) interventions at a national level to inform a review of their IPC Core Components guidelines (PROSPERO CRD42021297376). CENTRAL, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, and WHO IRIS were searched for studies meeting Cochrane's Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) design criteria, published from April 19, 2017, to Oct 14, 2021. Primary research studies examining national IPC interventions in acute hospitals in any country with outcomes related to rates of health-care-associated infections were included. Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed quality using the EPOC risk of bias criteria. 36 studies were categorised per intervention type and synthesised narratively: care bundles (n=2), care bundles with implementation strategies (n=9), IPC programmes (n=16), and regulations (n=9). Designs included 21 interrupted time-series, nine controlled before-and-after studies, four cluster-randomised trials, and two non-randomised trials. Evidence supports the effectiveness of care bundles with implementation strategies. However, evidence for IPC programmes and regulations was inconclusive as studies were heterogeneous regarding populations, interventions, and outcomes. The overall risk of bias was high. Recommendations include the involvement of implementation strategies in care bundles and for further research on national IPC interventions with robust study designs and in low-income and middle-income settings.

Automated summary

This systematic review aimed to update the evaluation of national-level infection prevention and control interventions and provide information for relevant guidelines. The effectiveness of care bundles with implementation strategies was supported, but the evidence for IPC programmes and regulations was inconclusive. Recommendations include strengthening the implementation strategies of care bundles and conducting more rigorous research in low-income and middle-income settings.