Maintaining Infection Control Standards: Challenges in a Resource-Constrained Environment
A narrative review
Keywords:
Standard Infection Control(SICP), Resource Constrained Environment (RCE), Healthcare Workers(HCW).Abstract
Standard Infection Control Protocols (SICPs) are the foundations of safe healthcare delivery for both the patient and the healthcare worker. It houses the key to the prevention of cross-infection in such environments. These protocols are generally designated “Universal Standard Precautions,” known to be strictly adhered to in high-income countries (HICs). However, their implementation in resource-constrained environments (RCEs) reveals a profound chasm between policy and practice. This narrative review synthesizes evidence to explore the multifaceted challenges that undermine SICP adherence in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and under-resourced settings within high-income nations. A close review and analysis of the challenges confronting the practice of SICPs in RCE settings reveals the root cause to be; a failure of the system. This is expressed as chronic infrastructural instability, fractured supply chains, an unsupported health workforce, and pervasive socio-cultural and economic barriers. This review, therefore, unveils the challenges bedeviling compliance and the possible route of repair that can create a positive paradigm shift in favour of compliance with SICPs.
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