Infection prevention and control preparedness among public hospitals and COVID-19 temporary treatment and monitoring facilities in the Philippines

ObjectivesAn effective response to COVID-19 necessitates rigid compliance of health facilities to infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols to protect HCWs, prevent onward transmission, and mitigate the impact of the outbreak on the health care system. The study aims to assess the compliance of public hospitals and temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs) to IPC standards for COVID-19. MethodsA baseline assessment survey was conducted between July 20 to August 18, 2020, from selected facilities in 38 local government units (LGU) across the country utilising a 35-point questionnaire corresponding to a set of standards issued by the Philippine Department of Health. ResultsThe study shows that public hospitals reported sufficient IPC preparedness and compliance compared to TTMFs in the domains of engineering and administrative controls. Both types of facilities reported weak compliance in the use of color-coded bags and in having a central storage for infectious waste. In addition, among TTMFs adherence to proper labelling of waste bins, presence of instructional materials for waste disposal, directional signages for movements of HCWs and patients, availability of an IPC policy, and advocacy materials on proper handwashing, respiratory etiquette, and physical distancing, and PPE use were also low. ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of IPC preparedness among health care facilities to effectively prevent disease transmission and mitigate its impact on the health care system. The findings suggests that periodic monitoring and augmentation of resources are needed to immediately address the compliance gaps. However, systemic improvements and long-term investments are required to sustain IPC practices over time. What is already known?Infection prevention and control measures are effective at protecting patients and health care workers from facility-acquired infections and averting onward transmission of the disease. What are the new findings?Findings from this study highlight the critical gaps in infection prevention and control preparedness among established healthcare settings like hospitals and in repurposed spaces such as temporary facilities for COVID-19 isolation that were primarily set up to manage the surge in cases. What do the new findings imply?It focuses attention on the periodic monitoring of health facilities compliance to standard infection prevention and control practices especially during outbreak situations as a basis for identifying immediate resource and technical requirements, and for planning the needed investments in the long term.