KS Healthcare Consulting Ltd, Glasgow, UK.
Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2021 Mar 24;10(1):59. doi: 10.1186/s13756-021-00922-x.
Water, sanitation and hygiene, collectively known as WASH, is an enabler of infection prevention and control (IPC), both of which contribute to safe, quality health care and the prevention of spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This discussion paper considers the importance placed on the role of hygiene, including cleaning and those who clean, in health care facilities, within the context of existing data, guidelines and initiatives. Informed by this, the paper presents five areas for consideration that have the potential to strengthen and further demonstrate the value of this important cadre of staff and their role in clean, safe healthcare, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The considerations centre around actions to overcome the current data gaps, including the paucity of national data on environmental cleaning and the training of cleaners; strengthening the implementation of norms and standards; combining global and national advocacy efforts; revisiting investment; and addressing research gaps on the issue. The need to act, in line with WHO and UNICEF recommendations to address this overlooked and undercompensated workforce and to elevate their status as important contributors to IPC, WASH and AMR is a pressing one.
水、环境卫生和个人卫生，统称为 WASH，是感染预防和控制（IPC）的推动因素，两者都有助于提供安全、高质量的医疗保健并防止抗微生物药物耐药性（AMR）的传播。本讨论文件考虑了卫生（包括清洁和清洁人员）在卫生保健设施中的作用的重要性，其依据是现有数据、准则和举措。在此基础上，本文提出了五个值得考虑的领域，这些领域有可能加强并进一步展示这一重要员工群体的价值及其在清洁、安全的医疗保健中的作用，特别是在中低收入国家。这些考虑因素围绕着克服当前数据差距的行动展开，包括缺乏关于环境清洁和清洁人员培训的国家数据；加强规范和标准的实施；将全球和国家的宣传工作结合起来；重新审视投资；并解决关于这一问题的研究差距。根据世界卫生组织和联合国儿童基金会的建议采取行动，解决这一被忽视和补偿不足的劳动力问题，并提升他们作为感染预防和控制、WASH 和 AMR 重要贡献者的地位，是当务之急。
