The IPC global unit within the IHS department provides coordination and technical leadership in IPC and in collaboration with and in support to other programmes and regional offices (ROs). The IPC unit works jointly with the IPC team in the WHE division and with the AMR division. The main functions of the IPC unit are the following: 1) strategic and technical leadership and collaborative development of high-quality IPC normative and guidance products; 2) coordination of IPC and sepsis work across HQ and with ROs and external stakeholders, through the IPC Taskforce and Global IPC Network; 3) advocacy, communications and global campaigning on hand hygiene and other relevant IPC topics; 4) country capacity building and technical support through development and implementation of IPC training and other improvement resources, in collaboration with other departments, ROs, and country offices; 5) measuring, learning, and reporting of IPC indicators and health care associated infections and sepsis surveillance, including research on IPC implementation and impact monitoring at the global, national and facility level, in particular in low-and middle-income countries. The work of the IPC unit also spans coordination of the WHO work on sepsis prevention, diagnosis and clinical management.
The IPC Unit seeks to identify IPC professionals and experts to support Member States and the WHO Secretariat to conduct IPC strengthening activities across global, national, subnational, and facility levels.