APIC Badger, APIC MN, APIC, SHEA, CDC, IFIC, IPCAN and Nairobi ICNC: Partners Together in Making it a Small World After All

Background: The development and sustainment of infection prevention and control programs are difficult in resource limited countries. Establishing local infection control chapters/societies can facilitate improving local expertise and successful program implementation. Local Infection Prevention and Control programs and expertise are essential for implementation of global health initiatives.  

Objective: Describe the effectiveness of partnerships with established infection prevention and control organizations in the development and sustainability of new infection and prevention chapters/societies in a resource-limited country.

Methods: A partnership between Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) Badger Chapter in Wisconsin and the Nairobi Infection Control Nurses Chapter (ICNC) in Kenya was formed in September 2007. The Nairobi ICNC conducted a member needs assessment in September 2007; infection control training and resources were identified as a primary need for its members. 2008 goals for both Nairobi ICNC and APIC Badger included providing infection prevention and control training and educational resources for the Nairobi ICNC members.   

Results:

APIC Badger identified the following resources from established infection prevention and control organizations to use in establishing a partnership with Nairobi ICNC and addressing the training needs of its member:

·         APIC MN- sister-chapter partnership agreement template

·         APIC- ‘Ready Reference to Microbes’ texts

·         IFIC- information for IFIC membership and resources, IPCAN contact information

·         Infection Prevention and Control African Network (IPCAN)- IFIC society written constitution template and conference invitation to the 1^st  African Infection Prevention and Control Conference (Uganda 9/09)

·         SHEA-CDC contact information for Respiratory Infection Prevention and Control Course

·         CDC- e-copies of ‘Respiratory Infection Prevention and Control Course’

·         APIC Badger- scholarship to APIC WI state conference 5/09, donated texts including APIC text, Gundersen Lutheran “Working Together in Infection Control” online training access, and contribution to Nairobi’s 1^st annual conference.

Nairobi ICNC held their 1^st and 2^nd annual conference in October 08 and 09; the conferences had over 100 attendees from Kenya, as well as, Tanzania, Uganda and Sudan. A smaller conference was also held in a rural community of Meru Kenya in 5/09.

Conclusions: Through partnering with established infection prevention and control organizations, developing chapters in resource limited settings can achieve training goals and program sustainability. APIC and IFIC should consider developing a registry of APIC chapters and IFIC societies interested in establishing international infection control partnerships.