WHO IPC Global Webinar Series in celebration of WAAW 2022: Back to the future – inspiring the next generation on hand hygiene

18 November 2022 13:00 – 14:30 UTC Time

WHO Infection Prevention and Control Global Webinar Series 

Join us to celebrate 

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022 

18 November 2022, 1-2:30 pm CET 

Back to the future: inspiring the next generation on hand hygiene 

Outline: Infection prevention and control (IPC) is essential to prevent the spread in microorganisms both in the context of outbreaks and every-day in settings where health care is delivered. IPC has a critical role in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), essentially through two means: 1) by stopping the spread of antimicrobial resistant microorganisms, and 2) by reducing the frequency of infection and thus, the need for using antimicrobials which inevitably lead to emergence of AMR. Whether implemented as a stand-alone intervention or integrated into multifaceted interventions, hand hygiene has been shown as a highly effective and essential measure for reducing the transmission of microorganisms and infection in health care settings. 

This WHO global webinar will be held in the context of the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022 and is aimed at highlighting the importance of hand hygiene to reduce infection and AMR in health care settings. It will also be an exceptional moment to celebrate the career of Professor Didier Pittet whose work and leadership have been revolutionary and paramount in hand hygiene improvement worldwide. Furthermore, other experts who contributed to the research, development and implementation of innovative strategies for hand hygiene improvement will be part of a panel discussion. 

Objectives 

  • To review innovative approaches that changed the history of hand hygiene promotion 
  • To understand adaptation and adoption of evidence-based strategies for hand hygiene improvement worldwide 
  • To highlight the example of an exceptional global leader and inspire the next generation of leaders on hand hygiene 

    • Simultaneous interpretation available in: Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, Russian and French 
    Please email IPCecho@salud.unm.edu with any questions.

     

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    Agenda

    Chair: 

    Benedetta Allegranzi (IPC technical lead, IPC Hub and Taskforce, Integrated Health Systems department, Universal Health Coverage and Life Course department; WHO HQ) 

     

Time (pm, CET) 

Item 

Speaker 

1.00 

Welcome remarks 

Sir Liam Donaldson, Special Envoy for Patient Safety, WHO 

1.10 

Housekeeping instructions 

ECHO team 

1.15 

Webinar objectives 

Benedetta Allegranzi 

1.20 

Hand hygiene improvement – how we make change happen 

Professor Didier Pittet, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva; Geneva, Switzerland 

1.40 

Discussion 

ALL 

1.50 

Poll question 

ALL 

1.55 

Panel: demonstrating the multimodal improvement strategy in practice – the “Geneva” model, innovation and change over the years 

Panellists: 

  • System change: Daniela Pires (Imperial College London, London, United Kingdon), 
  • Training and education: Ermira Tartari (University of Malta, Malta) 
  • Monitoring, evaluation and feedback: Andrew Stewardson (Monash University, Melbourne, Australia) 
  • Reminders and communications: Marie-Noelle Chraiti (University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland) 
  • Patient safety culture: Pamela Yew Fong LEE (Sarawak General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Malaysia) 
  • Innovation in hand hygiene promotion: Julie Storr (IPC Hub, WHO) 


Panel interventions and discussion facilitated by Claire Kilpatrick (IPC Hub, WHO) 

2.25 

Closing remarks 

Benedetta Allegranzi