Healthcare associated infection surveillance programs in Latin American countries: From a challenge to an opportunity

The International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) should be fully implemented by 2012. Adequate capacity for prevention the dissemination of emerging and re-emerging diseases in the health centers should be guaranteed, as part of the requirements for the IHR implementation. Based in previous assessments, the Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) identified the challenges and constraints of the epidemiological surveillance of healthcare associated infections (HAIs). A specific intervention was developed to strengthen this capacity. A three-pronged intervention was designed: (1) Development of guidelines for HAIs surveillance; (2) Training course and (3) Assessment of the HAIs surveillance system. Six countries participated in the program, with more than 140 staff trained. Quarterly surveillance reports were produced in two countries. Assessment visits encouraged the available information systems to collect and analysis of HAI data's by the institution and by the national health authority. As results, El Salvador, Colombia and Trinidad and Tobago developed a National document based on PAHO document. Paraguay reviewed the HAI country strategies. Trinidad and Tobago started the National HAI surveillance program with their first activities. The assessments also demonstrated improvement of the quality of HAI surveillance using standardized definitions and methodology. Recommendations: The commitment of the National Health Authorities is key for the success of the process; high-level initial meetings are recommended to raise awareness on HAIs. Quality data builds up the credibility of the program in the institutions and also in the Ministry of Health. Inter-country collaboration thru experts facilitated the development of a regional surveillance network.