TY - JOUR AU - Gomes, Danica AU - Hazim, Carmen AU - Safstrom, Jacqueline AU - Herzig, Carolyn AU - Luvsansharav, Ulzii AU - Dennison, Cori AU - Ahmed, Yakob AU - Wesangula, Evelyn AU - Hokororo, Joseph AU - Amone, Jackson AU - Tekle, Berhanu AU - Owiso, George AU - Mutayoba, Rita AU - Lamorde, Mohammed AU - Akello, Evelyn AU - Kassa, Getachew AU - Feleke, Beniam AU - Ndegwa, Linus AU - Kazaura, Kokuhumbya AU - Musisi, Diriisa AU - Date, Anand AU - Park, Benjamin AU - Bancroft, Elizabeth T1 - Infection Prevention and Control Initiatives to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Transmission of SARS-CoV-2, East Africa T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2022 VL - 28 IS - 13 SP - 255 SN - 1080-6059 AB - The coronavirus disease pandemic has highlighted the need to establish and maintain strong infection prevention and control (IPC) practices, not only to prevent healthcare-associated transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to healthcare workers and patients but also to prevent disruptions of essential healthcare services. In East Africa, where basic IPC capacity in healthcare facilities is limited, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supported rapid IPC capacity building in healthcare facilities in 4 target countries: Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. CDC supported IPC capacity-building initiatives at the healthcare facility and national levels according to each country’s specific needs, priorities, available resources, and existing IPC capacity and systems. In addition, CDC established a multicountry learning network to strengthen hospital level IPC, with an emphasis on peer-to-peer learning. We present an overview of the key strategies used to strengthen IPC in these countries and lessons learned from implementation. KW - COVID-19 KW - infection prevention and control initiatives KW - coronavirus disease KW - severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 KW - SARS-CoV-2 KW - coronaviruses KW - viruses KW - respiratory infections KW - low-income countries KW - middle-income countries KW - healthcare facilities KW - healthcare workers KW - essential healthcare services KW - capacity building KW - healthcare-associated transmission KW - zoonoses KW - Tanzania KW - Ethiopia KW - Kenya KW - Uganda KW - East Africa DO - 10.3201/eid2813.212352 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/28/13/21-2352_article ER - End of Reference