The provision of infection prevention and control services in the public health sector in New Zealand

Infection prevention and control services are well established within publically funded hospitals within New Zealand. In 2007, the Ministry of Health Quality Improvement Committee developed a set of National Quality Improvement Programs including an Infection Prevention and Control project. This project, the implementation of a national hand hygiene program, provision of guidance to reduce central line associated bacteraemia and recommendations for a national surgical site infection surveillance program, was the first nationally coordinated infection prevention and control program. More recently the Health Quality and Safety Commission has been established and the responsibility of the program delivery shifted to the Commission. District Health Boards have agreed to participate in the programs and the recently introduced Quality and Safety Markers will track the progress of these programs. Ongoing committed to increasing the workforce capacity and capability is required to ensure the successful delivery of these programs.