Matt Mason

Background: Infection prevention and control (IPC) professionals played a vital role during COVID-19, yet their experiences remain largely unexplored. Understanding these experiences is crucial for strengthening health system preparedness for future outbreaks/ pandemic. This study investigates IPC professionals' preparedness, response capacity, knowledge base, and barriers/enablers during COVID-19 to inform future pandemic planning.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in 2024 among IPC professionals worldwide through WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network partners and professional IPC organisations. The survey was translated into five languages, comprising 30 questions that covered demo-graphics, professional preparedness, response capacity, and pandemic experiences. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively using SPSS, while qualitative responses underwent thematic analysis.

Results: Eighty-six responses from 19 countries were analysed, with participants mainly from Australia (48.8 %), Canada (17.4 %), and the United Kingdom (8.1 %). Most worked in government hospitals (54.7 %) with dedicated IPC roles (57.0 %) and over five years of experience (73.2 %). Four interconnected themes emerged: establishing IPC as vital expertise, confronting the psychological toll of IPC work, navigating shifting guidance and policy, and managing resource scarcity and workforce strain. Participants reported a lack of recognition as " front-line " staff, significant psychological burdens including post-traumatic stress, challenges with rapidly changing guidance undermining staff trust, and overwhelming workloads without additional resources.

Conclusions: IPC professionals showed remarkable dedication despite facing structural neglect and emotional difficulties. Findings highlight the urgent need to formalise IPC leadership roles within health * Corresponding author. School of Health University of the Sunshine Coast Sippy Downs,

Background
Healthcare-associated infections are a significant burden in the Western Pacific Region, where diverse healthcare systems face challenges from emerging infectious diseases. Standard precautions form the basis of safe healthcare, and healthcare workers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices are critical to effective infection prevention. Evidence shows significant gaps in compliance, with rates varying across countries and settings. This scoping review aimed to map the evidence base, identify gaps, and inform policy and capacity-building initiatives for low- and middle-income Pacific Community member states.
Methods
The review followed Arksey and O'Malley's framework and the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Searches were conducted in CINAHL, Web of Science, Ovid, PubMed, Scopus, Global Index Medicus, and the Cochrane Library, alongside grey literature sources with no date limiters.
Results
Of 77 studies screened, two met the inclusion criteria. These were assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework. Relevant domains included skills and competence, beliefs about capabilities, environmental context and resources, social influences, and behavioural regulation.
Conclusion
This review highlights a critical lack of evidence on healthcare workers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and practices regarding standard precautions in the Pacific Community. Despite limited studies, findings emphasise the importance of education, organisational support, and targeted health system investment to strengthen infection prevention and control. The Theoretical Domains Framework provided a structured lens to identify behavioural determinants and barriers, reflecting challenges reported in other low-resource settings. Building contextually appropriate evidence is essential to inform tailored policy and capacity-building, particularly with the growing threats of emerging infectious diseases.

Objectives
To explore barriers and facilitators experienced by Australian organizational stakeholders in implementing COVID-19 vaccine rollout for health professional students.

Methods
A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with organizational stakeholders, including senior health department staff, university clinical placement coordinators, and clinical educators across Australia from November 21 to December 20, 2022, via ZOOM. An inductive and then deductive thematic analysis was conducted, guided by the Theoretical Domains Framework.

Findings
Nineteen participants were interviewed. Five key domains were generated: environmental context and resources, attention, decision-making, and goals, professional role and identity, emotion, and optimism. Barriers included top-down communication, inconsistent messaging, and limited vaccine access, leading to negative emotions. Enablers included teamwork, adaptability, and optimism.

Conclusions
The findings offer insights into operational challenges and support during the vaccine rollout. These lessons should inform strategies to overcome similar barriers in future large-scale health interventions or emergency responses.

Introduction
Peripheral intravenous catheter insertion is the most frequently performed invasive procedure in healthcare. Age-related physiological factors and chronic health conditions can influence how older people experience catheter-related complications, underscoring the need for clinical practices that address diverse needs. Although peripheral intravenous catheters are widely used in hospitalised populations, research specifically exploring their use, outcomes, and associated experiences in older people remains limited. This scoping review addresses this gap by mapping the available literature on peripheral intravenous catheter use in hospitalised older people to identify the characteristics of the existing evidence and opportunities for future research.

Methods
This scoping review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and was reported to have applied the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-Scoping Reviews. An electronic medical database search was conducted including MEDLINE (Web of Science), CINAHL Complete (EbscoHost), PubMed (NCBI), Scopus (Elsevier), Emcare (Ovid) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. A systematic grey literature search was also undertaken. The review was limited to publications since the year 2000.

Results
Thirty sources from 12 different countries were included. The evidence types consisted of observational studies (n = 15), experimental studies (n = 2), education summaries (n = 7), clinical practice guidelines (n = 2), a scoping review (n = 1), a bibliographic review of guidelines (n = 1), a book chapter (n = 1) and a letter to the editor (n = 1). Most studies were observational with small sample sizes. The review identified key topics relating to older people including peripheral intravenous catheter insertion, complications, clinician practices, physiological ageing and patient experiences. Pain and satisfaction were the only two experience measures identified. Definitions of ‘older people’ varied, and no qualitative evidence related to experiences specific to this population was identified.

Conclusion
Although a range of evidence types exists, substantial knowledge gaps remain. The literature is dominated by small observational studies, underscoring the need for robust experimental research. The absence of qualitative studies highlights a critical gap in understanding patient experience.

Implications for Practice
Future research should employ both high-quality quantitative and qualitative methodologies to support the development of patient-centred, evidence-based peripheral intravenous catheter practices for hospitalised older people.

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vital role of Infection Prevention and Control Professionals (IPCPs) in safeguarding public health. Amid rapidly evolving guidelines, critical personal protective equipment shortages, and surging workloads, IPCPs encountered unprecedented moral and ethical dilemmas. However, their experiences, ethical challenges, and the resulting moral distress remain understudied.
Methods
A scoping review following Arksey and O’Malley’s methodology was conducted to examine current research on ethical challenges and moral distress among IPCPs. Searches in CINAHL, MEDLINE via OVID, Emcare, Scopus, and Korea Citation Index yielded two extracted articles.
Results
Common themes included high workload, increased recognition, pressure to deliver accurate and timely information, need for peer support, and evidence-based practice. Differences in nationality, role discretion, and administrative systems led to varied experiences. District Medical Officers in Norway experienced more decision-making responsibilities and resulting ethical dilemmas in the context of broader communities and municipalities. The experiences of IPCPs were confined to their respective healthcare facilities.
Conclusion
There is a dearth of available research reporting the moral distress experienced by IPCPs whilst there is a plethora for those seen as “frontline” workers. Given the integral decision-making and implementation roles of these health professionals, and the burdens of ethical dilemmas they experienced in pandemic preparedness and response, further research is imperative to inform strategies to build moral resilience in the future.

Background
Healthcare-associated infections pose a significant global health challenge. While evidence-based infection prevention and control (IPC) interventions are widely implemented, their implementation may be influenced by religious factors. This scoping review aimed to examine the religious factors that influence IPC practices among healthcare providers.
Method
A systematic search was conducted in CINAHL, Emcare, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Given the anticipated paucity of literature, there were no date limiters. Articles demonstrating a direct relationship between religion and IPC practices in healthcare settings were included. Data extraction and quality appraisal were performed independently by multiple researchers.
Results
Thirteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Three main themes emerged: 1) religious rituals and influence, 2) use of alcohol, and 3) “bare below the elbows” principle. Religious practices were found to act as both enablers and barriers to IPC compliance. The use of alcohol-based hand rubs presented challenges for some religious groups, while religious dress codes conflicted with the “bare below the elbows” principle.
Conclusion
This review highlights the complex interplay between religion and IPC practices. Findings suggest the need for culturally sensitive IPC strategies that respect religious beliefs while maintaining effective IPC measures. Further research is needed to develop inclusive policies and educational programs that address these religious factors in healthcare settings.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) published the Global Report on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in 2022, highlighting both achievements and areas for improvement in IPC practices globally. The Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Framework (IPCAF) is a tool used to evaluate IPC programs across different healthcare settings.

Aim: This scoping review aims to identify published reports of IPCAF use, collate available data, and compare findings to those of the WHO’s Global Report on IPC.

Methods: A scoping review methodology was employed, involving searches in PubMed, MEDLINE via Ebsco, CINAHL via Ebsco, Embase via Ovid, and Scopus from November 2016 to March 2024. Studies included were surveys, cross-sectional studies, before-after studies, observational studies, or cohort studies published in peer-reviewed journals. Data extraction focused on study characteristics, IPC Core Component results, and overall IPCAF scores.

Results: Twenty-seven articles met the inclusion criteria, representing 18 countries across four WHO regions. High-income countries (HICs) like Germany, Austria, and Japan reported predominantly Advanced IPCAF scores. In contrast, low-income countries (LICs) such as Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Ethiopia often reported Basic or Inadequate scores. Lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) like India, Indonesia, and Pakistan showed mixed results, while upper-middle-income countries (UMICs) like Türkiye and China generally reported higher scores. The review highlighted significant variability in IPC scores within and between countries.

Conclusion: The findings corroborate the WHO’s Global Report, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions to enhance IPC practices, particularly in resource-limited settings. Addressing gaps in data collection and increasing participation from underrepresented regions are crucial for developing a robust global IPC framework.