gms | German Medical Science

On February 28, 2020, hygiene experts from various European countries were invited by the Rudolf Schülke Foundation, Hamburg, to discuss the current strengths and weaknesses in infection precautions throughout Europe and strategies for improvement. Prof. Dr. med. Martin Exner, chairman of the Foundation, declared his vision:

Every European in every European country should have the right to be medically cared for according to the same hygiene safety standards.

In the meantime, during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, this vision of equal protection for all has gained even more significance and urgency.

The message is clear: This house is on fire. This imagery was originally introduced by Professor Alexander Friedrich, Groningen, for describing the state of urgency to take action against the ongoing spread of Gram-negative pathogens throughout Europe in order to illustrate that infection prevention and control must be a cooperative effort across borders. It was introduced some time ago, without corona wildfires.

However, independent of epidemics like SARS, swine flu, COVID-19, and the threat posed by antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, it is – now more than ever – evident that infections constitute a major public health threat. It is a threat which is not confined to certain settings like hospitals or to specific geographical locations. It is a threat which concerns us all. And it is a threat which must be dealt with on a European level in order to ensure that all European citizens can rely on the implementation of minimum standards of infection prevention and control measures.

Although there have been efforts to combat antibiotic resistance and to ensure quality of care, including the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections by the European Council, the fire has not been prevented from spreading and new fires have started. Thus, infection prevention and control must become a mandatory health-related target, requiring constant evaluation, adaptation and revision. Antimicrobial resistance and emergence and re-emergence of new pathogens must be seen as interconnected. Even though interventions need to take into account regional or local needs and preconditions in order to be successful, a European-wide approach is indispensable.

The authors of this statement view the following infection-related goals and targets as a priority for EU health policies and call for immediate action:

1.

Define specific, concrete obligatory infection prevention goals with concrete time frames (e.g., make Europe CRE-free by 2030).

2.

Define standards for binding regulatory frameworks in each member state to ensure compliance with essential recommendations related to infection prevention issues.

3.

Define standards for obligatory availability of a sufficient number of tertiary academic institutions (universities) to ensure professional education in hygiene of medical doctors and nurses during their studies, to be able to offer further education for specialists in hygiene, public health, global health and related fields, and to conduct research.

4.

Establish a framework for the implementation of best practice for combatting antimicrobial resistance in each European country.

5.

Define key hygiene indicators and scores for minimum requirements which must be met for accreditation of inpatient and outpatient medical care settings (including long-term-care facilities), methods for monitoring compliance, and sanctions for non-compliance.

6.

Establish standard requirements and directives for professional cleaning and disinfection of medical care facilities.

7.

Ensure continuing revision and enforcement of medical device processing regulations.

8.

Establish minimum standards for adequate structural and building requirements.

9.

Empower ECDC to pay visits to each member state to monitor hygiene processes according to common core strategies.

10.

Ensure surveillance infrastructure and reliable evaluation of data in each European country and comparability across countries.

11.

Ensure outbreak management according to minimum standards in each European country.

12.

Systematically educate the general public on basic hygiene and infection prevention, starting from childhood in each European country.

13.

Adopt a one health approach.

14.

Promote production of antibiotics, disinfectants and other essential infection control equipment within Europe.

15.

Promote research and development of antibiotics and disinfectants within Europe.

16.

Use expert knowledge and existing guidelines, publications and curricula to find a consensus and implement an obligatory framework for a European infection control program.

20 October, 2021

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

For information on the presentations held during the symposium of the Rudolf Schülke Foundation, please contact Andrea Rodewald:
andrea.rodewald@schuelke.com