Updates from WHO headquarters

Practical guide for IPC national action plans now available!

We’re excited to announce the release of the Development and implementation of national action plans for infection prevention and control: practical guide. This step-by-step resource is designed to support countries in creating and strengthening their IPC national action plans (NAPs). 

Packed with tools, resources and inspiring country stories, the guide helps to effectively prioritize, cost, implement, monitor and evaluate IPC activities. 

Whether you're starting from scratch or refining an existing plan, the GTI guide offers a clear roadmap to success. 

Missed the launch? Watch the recording of the 17 June launch event. 

Finally, join us 16 September for a half-day workshop at ICPIC 2025, where we will focus on transforming IPC plans into action!  This workshop will offer participants an opportunity to become more familiar with the Global action plan and monitoring framework (GAPMF) to gather global experts’ views on and engage in discussion about opportunities and challenges with the implementation of IPC strategies, and finally, to focus specifically on plans for IPC training and education, including real-world examples of effective IPC education delivery.  

Visit the ICPIC 2025 site to learn more and register for the workshop! 

WASH in health care facilities: 2025 progress tracker launched

On 29 July, WHO and UNICEF hosted a fast-paced, 30-minute webinar to unveil the 2025 update of the WASH in health care facilities country progress tracker—now covering 107 countries. The session highlighted global progress, persistent gaps and the growing use of the tracker to drive accountability and action. The tracker underpins global monitoring against the 2023 United Nations General Assembly resolution on WASH, waste and electricity in health care facilities. 

Updates from the WHO Health Emergencies (WHE) IPC & WASH team  

The WHE IPC & WASH team has been actively supporting countries in crisis, delivering timely and impactful interventions in: 

• Uganda – Sudan virus disease response 

Members of the WHE IPC & WASH team were deployed to Uganda to assist with the Sudan virus disease outbreak. Thanks to collaborative efforts, the outbreak was officially declared over on 25 April 2025. 

• Myanmar – Earthquake emergency response 

In the wake of the Myanmar earthquake, comprehensive technical support to strengthen WASH services and waste management in targeted health care facilities. Activities included: 

• Training frontline workers on IPC protocols 
• Distributing technical materials for WASH FIT implementation 
• Supporting water quality monitoring to curb waterborne disease outbreaks promoting mosquito-borne disease prevention strategies 

The WHE IPC & WASH team is also pleased to announce that the following new resources are now available.  

Technical resources published by WHO: 

• How to make a soapy water cleaning solution  
• Infection prevention and control and water sanitation and hygiene in health facilities during mpox disease outbreaks: rapid assessment tool, user guide  
• Clinical management and infection prevention and control for mpox: Living guideline   
• Strengthening hand hygiene practices in community settings and health-care facilities in the context of mpox: summary and call to action 
• Strategic actions for infection prevention and control and water, sanitation and hygiene during mpox outbreak response  
• Strategic actions for infection prevention and control and water, sanitation and hygiene during mpox outbreak response: executive summary  
• Assessment and management of health and care workers with possible occupational exposures to Orthoebolavirus or Orthomarburgvirus   

External research publications:  

• From evidence to policy: WHO’s COVID-19 infection prevention and control guideline development process.  
• Health and care workers' perceptions of PPE and physical distancing for COVID-19: A qualitative evidence synthesis.  
• Factors influencing mask use and physical distancing for COVID-19: A qualitative evidence synthesis
• Efficacy of Laundry Practices in Eliminating Mpox Virus From Fabrics  
• Factors shaping cleaning and disinfection practices during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative evidence synthesis  
• Guidance reconciliation and practice question prioritization for a World Health Organization's Ebola and Marburg Disease guideline 

 For more information, visit the Health Emergencies IPC and WASH webpage.  

PROGRESS: priorities for global research in maternal sepsis

Updates from our partners

From science to action: evidence launch for new WHO guidelines on hand hygiene

Join the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on 18 September (16:00–18:00 BST) for the official launch of a special supplement in BMJ Global Health: The evidence to establish global guidelines on hand hygiene in community settings.

This hybrid event will unveil five systematic reviews commissioned by WHO to inform the upcoming WHO & UNICEF global guidelines on hand hygiene, set to be released later this year. The supplement represents a major step in translating science into actionable policy for safer, healthier communities.

Please RSVP by 5 September to Joanna Esteves Mills at [email protected], indicating whether you’ll attend in person or virtually, and to receive additional details about the event.

Penicillin Allergy Management - Removing Barriers to Optimal Antibiotic Prescribing

In current practice, penicillin allergy labels are largely unevaluated and untested.  Penicillin allergy labels present a barrier to optimal antibiotic prescribing. After an evaluation, most such labels will be low risk and can be safely challenged with a dose of amoxicillin to disprove and remove the allergy. In this FREE interactive course, learners will gain experience in penicillin allergy history taking, risk assessment using validated instruments, penicillin allergy testing, and delabeling.

Topics Covered:

• Module 1:  Learn about penicillin allergies: What are the adverse effects, how to take a history and perform a risk assessment
• Module 2: Learn about penicillin allergy testing: When to test, how to test, and how to delabel
• Module 3: Learn about penicillin allergy teamwork: How to engage patients, how to document penicillin allergy testing, and how to function as a team

Register now: Penicillin Allergy Management Course

Updates from the Association for professionals in infection control and epidemiology (APIC)

• CBIC Virtual CIC® Power Prep Course | 8 September 2025 | 10 AM–7PM ET

Designed for those preparing to take the CIC® exam or recertification exam, this course will review the fundamental concepts of IPC practice and provide test preparation tips, strategies and practice questions, as well as accessing guidance for developing a personal study plan and identify test-taking strategies. Register today!

• Join APIC in Denver, Colorado from 29 Sep–2 Oct 2025

It's your chance at in-person learning and peer-to-peer networking, while you take part in essential infection prevention and control training, covering ASC/ambulatory settings, EPI® intensive, and dental settings - or CIC® certification preparation, led by experienced and certified APIC faculty. Register today!

Updates from IPAC Canada

Essentials in Infection Prevention and Control – Fall 2025

IPAC Canada is offering its popular Hybrid long-term care in IPAC course this fall, designed for professionals working in long-term care (LTC) settings. This intensive programme combines flexible online learning with a focused in-person session to build essential skills in infection prevention and control.

The online component begins on 8 September 2025, followed by a 2-day, in-person session in Toronto, on 25 & 26 October. A certificate of completion will be awarded to all participants.

Click here to register or contact [email protected] if you have questions.

Upcoming Webinars

Improving Hand Hygiene – A Human Factors Approach | 4 September 2025 @ 13:00 ET. Register here.

Changing IPAC Practice: Resident vaccination | 17 September 2025 @ 13:00 ET. Register here.

Infection Control Africa Network (ICAN) Congress



The ICAN Congress 2025 successfully held from 29 June–2 July 2025, on the theme “Advancing infection prevention and control, and antimicrobial stewardship for a safer tomorrow”.

Health care professionals, scientists and public health leaders convened from across the African continent and beyond. About 260 delegates participated from over 33 countries. With high engagement, impactful presentations and rich collaboration opportunities, the event marked a significant step forward in strengthening IPC infrastructure and education across the African continent. Although the ICAN 2025 conference has come and gone, the memories will last for as long as possible. Read more and see all the photos here! 

International conference on prevention and infection control (ICPIC 2025), 16–19 September 2025, Geneva, Switzerland 

The most anticipated event in infection prevention and control is within reach! This is your direct invitation to immerse yourself in cutting-edge research, discover transformative solutions and forge vital connections with the global #IPCcommunity. Your participation means access to expert-led discussions and insights that will shape the future of our field.

 Last chance to register!

17th Annual Infection Prevention Society Conference 2025, 29-30 September 2025 | Brighton, UK

Join the global conversation on infection prevention at the Infection Prevention Society's annual conference. Discover cutting-edge solutions and expertise in infection prevention and control with leading experts covering a wide range of topics and themes. Don't miss this world-leading event!

Click here for more information.

Infection Control Africa Network (ICAN) Congress

The 9th Infection Control Africa Network Congress (ICAN 2025) will be held on 29 June–2 July 2025, at Cape Town’s International Convention Centre, in South Africa. This event will bring together infection control practitioners, health care workers, hospital management and engineers, to discuss "Advancing IPC and AMS for a safer tomorrow".

For more details, visit www.icancongress.com or contact Natheerah Albertus at [email protected]. Participation is eagerly anticipated to advance infection control practices together in Cape Town!

New! Hand hygiene and patient engagement blog

Interested in understanding some of the background to patient engagement in hand hygiene improvement? Read some of the history, including the role of the WHO Guidelines for hand hygiene in health care here in this blog https://s3globalhealth.com/uncategorized/can-patients-help-prevent-infections-the-conversation-continues/

This newsletter is prepared by the Infection Prevention and Control Unit and Hub at WHO headquarters, with input from the WHO IPC global team and our wider partners and stakeholders.

For further information on WHO and IPC, please visit the WHO IPC web page.

If you have been forwarded this by email and wish to subscribe to this newsletter, please click here.

Providing WHO information must be balanced with available resources, both human and financial. WHO do their best to translate their most relevant tools and documents. Regretfully, we are not currently able to translate this newsletter into French or Spanish. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you and hope that you will remain a valued reader of the newsletter.

La délivrance d'informations provenant de l'OMS dépend des ressources disponibles, à la fois humaines et financières. L’OMS, y compris l'équipe IPC, fait de son mieux pour traduire ses outils et documents les plus importants. Malheureusement, nous ne sommes pas actuellement en mesure de traduire cette lettre d'information mensuelle en français et en espagnol. Nous nous excusons pour ce désagrément et espérons que vous resterez néanmoins fidèle lecteur/ice de cette lettre d'information.

La información generada por la OMS, depende de los recursos humanos y económicos disponibles. El Programa, y el equipo IPC, realizan sus mejores esfuerzos para traducir el material y documentos de mayor importancia. Desafortunadamente, por el momento no contamos con la facilidad de traducir este boletin mensual en francés o español. Le pedimos disculpas por cualquier inconveniente que podamos causarle, y esperamos seguir contando con su valiosa participación como lector de nuestro boletin.